RARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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Curiosities of History: 



BOSTON 



September Seventeenth, 



1630 — 1880. 



BY / 

WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 



fj^r/yirj'^'' 



Ringing clearly with a will 
What she was is Boston still." 

— Whittier. 



BOSTON : 
LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. 

NEW YORK: 

CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. 

1880. 



f^t^. 






Copyright, 1880, 
By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 



Authors Address: 
Box 229, Concord, Mass. 



Franklin Press: 

Rand, Avery, &^ Company, 

117 Franklin Street, 

Boston. 



AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 
TO MY WIFE, 

JULIET REBECCA WHEILDON, 

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 

.liftg^first grnr of our Parrieb fife, 

MAY 25, i&So. 

WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 



INTRODUCTION 



It seems proper to saj in offering this little volume 
to the public, ihat no attempt has been made to ex- 
haust the subjects of which the papers respectively 
treat ; but rather to enlarge upon matters of historical 
interest to Boston, which have been referred to only in 
a general way by historians and previous writers. — 
This idea rather than any determination to select mere- 
ly curious topics, has in a large measure influenced the 
writer ; and the endeavor has been to treat them freely 
and fairly, and present what may be new, or compara- 
tively new, concerning them, from such sources as are 
now accessible and have been open to the writer. It is 
not, however, intended to say that an impulse towards 
some curious matters of history has not been indulged, 
and, indeed, considering the subjects and materials 
which presented themselves, could scarcely have been 
avoided, which was by no means desirable. Although 
it has been impertinently said, that " the most curious 



VI. INTRODUCTION. 

thing to be found is a woman not curious," we submit 
that curiosity is a quality not to be disparaged by wit 
or sarcasm, but is rather the germ and quality of pro- 
gress in art and science and history. 

It has been impossible to correct or qualify, or per- 
haps we might say avoid, all the errors, mistakes, or 
contradictions, which have been encountered in prepar- 
ing these pages ; and very possibly we may have inad- 
vertently added to the number. At all events, with 
our best endeavors against being drawn into or multiplex- 
ing errors, we lay no claim to invulnerability in the mat- 
ter of accuracy, or immacuLjcy in the way of opinions ; 
and we very sincerely add, if errors or mistakes have 
been made and are found, w^e shall be glad to be ap- 
prised of them. There are errors in our history which 
it is scarcely worth the while to attempt to correct, al- 
though they are not to be countenanced and should not 
be repeated. 

A period of two hundred and fifty years since the 
settlement of the town includes and covers a history of 
no ordinary character, involving progress and develop- 
ment, not merely of customs, manners and opinions, 
but of principles, passions and government. The city 
is a creation, as it were, by the art and industry of 
man ; and, with the reverence of Cotton Mather him- 
self, we add, " With the help of God !" and we ven- 



INTRODUCTION. Vll. 

ture the comparison that no change or growth, im- 
provement or embellishment, is to be found in the set- 
tlement or the city, that may not be paralleled in the 
growth, advancement and elevation of its people : in- 
deed, we go even farther than this, the material pro- 
gress to be seen around us, in all its multifarious forms 
and combinations, item by item, small or great, is in- 
dicative only of the advancement of the people, and 
marks the progress of moral, mental and intellectual 
power — of art, science and knowledge. 

We take this opportunity to acknowledge our indebt- 
edness to several friends for the loan and use of many 
rare and valuable works in the preparation of this his- 
tory, and in particular to Messrs. John A. Lewis and 
John L. DeWolf, of Boston, and Mr. J. Ward Dean, 
of the N. E. His. Gen. Society. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



I. Topography of Boston. 13 

The Peninsula. The Mill Creek. 

Two Islands. Great South Cove. 

Anne Pollard. The North Cove. 

Curious Descriptions. Boston Common. 

II. The Public Ferries. 27 

The Great Ferry. Wampompeague. 

Order of Court, Nov. 1680. Judge Sewall over the Ice. 

Lease to Edward Converse. Charlestown mother cf Boston. 

Ferry to Winnisimmet ; Andros Revolution and Fires. 

Grant to Harvard College. Portsmouth Stage. 

Bad "peag," money. Paul Revere crossing. 

III. The Boston Cornfields. 37 

Spragues at Charlestown ; Fencing the Fields, &c. 

Dividing the Land ; The Cornfields and Pastares ; 

Corn from the Indians ; The Granary. 

IV. Puritan Government. 45 

Authority of the Company. Set in his own Stocks. 

Ex post facto Laws. Regulating the Dress of Women 

Punished for a pun. The "Body of Liberties." 

Fines and Ear-cropping. Ward on Kissing Women. 

W hipping through three towns John Dunton on the Laws. 

V. Narragansett Indians. 57 

Murder of Mr. Oldham. Coining money. 

Visit of Miantonomo to Gov. Marriage of Children. 

Vane, Treaty, &(j. Egyptian Custom. 

Narragansett Art. Marriage of Cleopatra. 

VI. Names of Places, Streets, &c. 62 

Curious Indian Names ; Royal Names, Names of Patriots, 
Names of Streets, Taverns, &c ; Puritans and Union Names ; 

Paddy Alley and William Paddy; Names of Taverns and Shops ; 

Dates of the Streets and Lanes ; Number of Streets and Wharves. 



X. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

VII. Persecution of the Quakers. 74 

Church Government and Civil Order from the King, 1661. 

Govei'nment. Hutchinson's Opinion. 

Interference of the King. Triumph of the Quakers. 

Arrival of Quakers, 1656. Their Meeting House. 

Execution of Quakers. Meetings discontinued. 

VIII. First Newspaper in America. 87 

First ever issued — in writing. To cure the 'Spirit of Lying.' 

Gazette in Venice, 1583. The Christian Indians. 

English Mercury, 1588. Massacre of French Indians. 

*' Publick Occurrences" 1690. General character of the pa- 
Legislative Interference. per and its reading matter. 

IX. Curious Boston Lectures. 98 

History of Boston ; Hope in God ; 

"Boston's Ebenezer ;" Appeal to the Public Officers; 

A Stone of Help ; Household Religion ; 

Widows and Orphans ; Fanaticism and Declamation. 

X. Remarkable Proclamations, 1774--5. 104 

March 29, War against France ; 1745, March 25, For a Fast Day; 

October 18, On account of a Riot ; " July 8, Thanksgiving Day ; 

October 19, War agiinst Indians ; " Sept. 6, For a Fast Day ; 

Ocfoier 20, ThanJ-sgiving Day ; " J\Qjt;em6er 22, Sailor's Riot ; 

JVov. 2, Rewards for Indian scalps; '-' JVovemher 25, Thanksgiving. 

XI. Popular Puritan Literature. 115 

An Earthquake in Boston ; Popish Invasion of England ; 

Deborah ; a Bee ; The Scotch Rebellion. 

XII. Revolutionary Proclamations. 126 

Gen. Gage s Administration ; Against non-importation league. 

Shutting up of Boston Harbor ; Remarkable Proclamation for the 
Election of delegates to Congress; promotion of Piety and Virtue. 

General Gage s Proclamation ; Its Character and Observance. 

XIIL Curiosities of the Market. 131 

Supplies of Gov. Winthrop; Hunting, Game, Fish, &c. ; 

Bartering for Furs ; Living in the Olden Time ; 

Scarcity of Provisions; Supplies for a British fleet. 

CONCLUSION. 



I 



\\ 




11 



TOPOGEAPHY OF BOSTON. 



THE ORIGINAL PENINSULA. 

There is a line of Cowper to the effect that " God 
made the country, and man made the town ; " and 
there is probably no more striking evidence of the 
truthfulness of the axiom than is to be found in the 
history and growth of Boston, between the years 
1630 and 1880, confirming in a remarkable manner 
Capt. Wood's prophecy concerning the town, in 
1650: viz., "whose continuall inlargement presages 
some sumptuous city." The original territory which 
has formed the basis, so to speak, of Boston proper, 
was a peninsula, and appeared like two islands, or, by 
the continued operation of the sea, was likely to 
become so. Its distinguishing feature was to be 
found in its three prominent hills, or, perhaps, its two 
hills and its three-peaked mountain. These were her 
jewels : they have since represented her fame, her 
history, her sentiments ; for these were all wrapped 
around them. The peninsula was a point of land 
projected into the harbor, with a narrow neck con- 
necting it with the mainland, and another narrow 

13 



14 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

place in the vicinity of what is now Dock Square, 
which was once quite open to the harbor. In length 
fi'om the south line at Roxbury, it was something less 
than three miles (two and three-fourths and two 
hundred and thirty-eight yards). Its width at the 
widest point, between Wheelwright's wharf (after- 
wards Rowe's, and now Foster's) to Barton's Point, 
Leverett Street, was something over one mile, and 
its circumference about four miles. 

CURIOUS EARLY DESCRIPTIONS. 

The first impression of the "island" which has 
been recorded is that of Anne Pollard, who died in 
Boston, Dec. 6, 1725, at the age of 105 years, and left 
over one hundred descendants. She always said that 
she came over from Charlestown, in 1630, in the first 
boat that crossed with Gov. Winthrop's party, and, 
being what might now be called a romping girl for 
those times, ten 3'ears of age, was " the first to jump 
ashore ; " and she afterwards described the place "as 
being at that time very uneven, abounding in small 
hollows and swamp, and covered with blueberry and 
other bushes." We do not think there is any one 
inclined to dispute this statement, or question its 
truthfulness. 

There are several descri^otions of early Boston, 
topographical and otherwise, which have been quoted 
by subsequent writers upon the subject, rather as 
curious and original than as having any particular 
merit in themselves. First among these is that of 
Capt. Edward Johnson, in his "Wonder-Working 
Providence of Sion's Saviour in New England," writ- 



TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. 15 

ten about 1640. Ke describes it as surrounded by the 
brinish flood, " saving one small Tstmos which gives 
free access to the neighbor townes," and says, " At 
their first landing the hideous thickets in this place 
were such that wolfes and beares nurst up their 
young from the eyes of all beholders. . . . The forme 
of this Towne is like a hearte, naturally situated for 
fortifications, having two hills on the frontice part 
thereof next the sea." These were Fort and Mill 
(Copps') Hills. '' Betwixt these two strong amies 
lies a large cove or bay, on which the chiefest part of 
the town is built, overtopped with a third hill " (Sen- 
try or Beacon Hill). There Avere two smaller hills 
on the Common, on one of which Gen. Gage after- 
wards built a battery, when the town was in his mili- 
tary possession, and on the other a powder-house. 

Another curious description of Boston is given in 
Wood's "New England's Prospect: " — 

" Boston is two miles North-east from Roxberry. His situa- 
tion is very pleasant, being a Peninsula hemm'd in on the 
south side with the Bay of Boxberry, and on the north side with 
Charles River, the marshes on the back side being not half a 
quarter of a mile over ; so that a little fencing will secure their 
cattle from the woolves. It being a Necke and bare of wood, 
they are not troubled with those great annoyances, wolves, rat- 
tlesnakes and musquetoes. . . . This Necke of Land is not 
above four miles in compasse, in foi me almost square, having 
on the south side at one corner a great broad hill, whereon is 
planted a Fort, which can command any ship as shee sayles into 
any Harbour within the still Bay. On the north side is another 
Hill equall in bignesse, whereon stands a winde mill. To the 
north-west is a high Mountaine, with three little rising Hills on 
the top of it, wherfore it is called Tramount. . . . This town 
although it be neither the greatest, nor the richest, yet is the 



16 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

most noted and frequented, being the Center of the Planta- 
tions, where the monthly Courts are kept. Here likewise dwells 
the Governor. This place hath very good land, aifording rich 
Coi'ne-fields, and fruitful gardens, having likewise sweete and 
pleasant springs." 

There were two large coves projecting into the pe- 
ninsula, — one from the harbor and one from Charles 
Kiver, nearly opposite to each other, and producing 
the narrow portion of the land already spoken of, so 
that if the peninsula was not formed of two islands 
originally, as has been supposed, the cutting, of a 
creek across this narrow portion, nearly on the line 
of Blackstone Street, and uniting the waters of the 
two coves, had the effect practically to make it so, 
at least at such times as the waters of Charles River 
and the harbor met across the neck, near Roxbury; 
so that the peninsula can liardly be said to have 
been heart-shaped, much less square. 

But the most curious description of Boston, though 
it may hardly be called such, is that given by Ed\yard 
Ward — a lf)w, but ingenious and scandalous author, 
whose book cannot enter a decent presence — in his 
" Trip to New England." ^ He says of "Boston and 
the Inhabitants," — 

"On the south-west side of Massachusetts Bay is Boston, 
whose name is taken f lom the Town in Lincolnshire, and is the 
Metropolis of all Now England. The houses, in some parts, 
join as in London. The buildings, like their women, being neat 
and handsome. And their streets, like the hearts of the male 
inhabitants, are paved with pebble. 

1 The Second Vohnno of the Writings of the Author of the Lon- 
don Spy. London : 170G. 



TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. 17 

" In the chief or High Street there are stately edifices, some 
of which have cost the owners two or three thousand pounds the 
raising, wliich I think plainly proves two old adages true, viz., 
That a fool and his money is soon parted ; and, Set a beggar on 
horseback he'll ride to the devil ; for tlie fathers of these men 
were tinkers and pedlars. 

'' To the glory of religion, and the credit of the town, there 
are four churches, built w'ith clapbojirds and shingles, after the 
fashion of our meeting houses ; which arc supply'd by four min- 
isters, to whom some, very justly, have applied these epithets, 
one a scholar, the second a gentleman, the third a dunce, and 
the fourth a clown." 

These extracts afford no idea of the scandalous 
character of the book, nor do even sentences like 
these : '■' The women, like the men, are excessive 
smokers." " They smoke in bed, smoke as they 
knead their bread, smoke whilst they are cooking 
their victuals, smoke at prayers," &c. " Eating, 
drinking, smoking, and sleeping take up four parts 
in five of their time," &c. " Rum, alias kill-devil, is 
as much adorVl by the American English, as a dram 
of brandy is by an old billingsgate," &c. We can 
give our readers no further idea of the gross and 
indecent character of the whole volume, without 
offending in the way the author has done. 

THE SOUTH COVE. 

The South Cove extended from what is now Bat- 
terymarch Street to near the North Battery, at the 
foot of Fleet Street, curving inward as far as Kilby 
Street and near the old State House, with creeks 
extending towards Spring Lane, Milk and Federal 
Streets. Dearborn says, *' Winthrop's Marsh, after- 



18 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

wards called Oliver's Dock, was near Kilby Street, 
and between tlie corner and INI ilk Street, a creek ran 
np to Spring Lane." An aged citizen once said he 
remembered bearing Dr. Cbauncy sa}^ that he had 
taken smelts in Milk Street ; and a Mr. Marshall 
remembered that when a boy they were caught in 
Federal Street, near the meeting-house, (Dr. Chan- 
ning's). Another aged inhabitant is reported to 
have said, that, in tlie great storm of 1723, "we could 
sail in boats from the South Battery to the rise of 
ground in King Street," near the old State House. 
Dock Square was at the head of a small cove, the 
tide rising nearly to the pump, which was formerly 
there, at the foot of Cornhill. The statue of Sam 
Adams, recently erected, is directly over the well in 
which the pump stood. 

A narrow point or tongue of land projected into 
the cove between the Town Dock (then near Fan- 
euil Hall) and Mill Creek, and upon this land stood 
the celebrated triangular warehouse, — a remarkable 
building for the time. It stood opposite the Swing 
Bridge, and a little north of the dock, measuring 
forty-one feet on Roebuck Passage (named after the 
tavern near it), and fifty feet on the back side. Near 
this place, in the sm.all square formed by the junction 
of Ann, Union, and Elm Streets, was the Flat Con- 
duit, so called. Ann Street was originally Conduit 
Street as far as Cross Street ; and Union Street, in 
1732, lead from the conduit to the Mill Pond. 

Around the South Cove, as has been said, in the 
early time the chiefest part of the town was built; 
and from thence it gradually expanded along the shore 



TOrOGKAPHY OF BOSTON. 19 

to the soiitli and to the west. John Josseljn, in 1688, 
visited Boston, and wrote a volume entitled " New 
England Rarities," in which he sajs, " It was then 
rather a village than a town, there being not above 
twenty or thirty houses." 

THE NORTH COVE. 

The Cove on the north side of the peninsula, 
Charles River, commenced near the Charlestown 
Ferry, curving inwardly nearly to Prince Street, 
Baldwin Place, Haymarket Square, nearly on the 
line of Leverett Street, to Barton's Point, where the 
almshouse formerly stood. '' The Mill Pond," as it 
was afterwards called, saj^s Shurtleff, " was bounded 
by portions of Prince and Endicott Streets on the 
east, and Leverett Street, Tucker's pasture, and Bowl- 
ing Green on the west ; and on the south it covered 
the whole space of Haymarket Square. Most of the 
estates on what is now Salem Street, . . . and on 
the west on Hawkins Street and Green Street, ex- 
tended to the Mill Pond Cove." The margin of the 
cove, it is said by another, "passed across Union, 
Friend, and Portland Streets, to the bottom of Haw- 
kins Street ; thence westerly, across Pitts and Gouch 
Streets, to Leverett Street, which at one time was 
called Mill Alley. The descent of the land here was 
ver}^ steep. A street was laid out on the line of Tem- 
ple Street [Staniford] from Leverett Street to Bea- 
con Hill, where steps led to .the top of the hill, a 
hundred and thirty-eight feet above the sea." 



20 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 



THE MILL CREEK. 



The Creek, or the Mill Creek, as it was afterwards 
called, was undoubtedly prior to the formation of the 
Mill Pond ; and it is doubtful if it was ever included 
in it, although Shaw conveys the idea that the North 
Cove was simply a piece of salt marsh, and that the 
creek was used for the purpose of coverin;^ it with 
water at flood-tide, and thus forming a mill-pond. As 
early as the 5th of July, 1631, an order was passed by 
the Court of Assistants, "that £30 be levied on the 
several plantations for clearing a creek, and opening 
a passage to the new town," — the town at this time 
being the settlement around the South Cove : so that 
the " clearing of a creek " was " a work of industry " 
on a small scale for such an enterprise. It was made 
across the narrow neck of land between the two great 
coves, and while it united the waters of Charles River 
with the harbor, divided the peninsula into two islands 
or sections. The creek, whatever its relations may 
have been to the Mill Pond in the later years of its 
existence, was used by the boats coming from the 
Middlesex Canal, which terminated at Charlestown 
Neck, and furnished to them a shorter wa}^ to the 
harbor with their freights of wood, lumber, &c. A 
few extracts from the town records will afford some 
fiu^tlier insight into the character and uses of the 
creek. 

In 1648, in describing the property of Thomas 
Marshall, who owned some land near the Water Mill, 
Mill Creek, it is stated, " with liberty of egress and 
regress in said creek with boats, lighters, and other 



TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. 21 

vessels;" and it is added, "Tliomas Marshall shall 
not Luild any nearer the creek than the now dwell- 
ing-house of said Milom, and that he shall not hin- 
der tlie mills going by any vessel in the creek." 

1G56, Aug. 25. — Butchers may throw their " garbidge " 
into the JNlill Creek over the drawbridge, and in no other 
place. [The drawbridge was in Ann Street.] 

1G59, Oct. 20. — As the people were returning from the ex- 
ecution of Robinson and Stevenson [Quakers], the draw of the 
drawbridge fell upon a crowd of them, mortally wounding a 
woman, and severely hurting several others. 

1691, August. — Afire broke out on Saturday evening, " con- 
suming about fourteen houses, besides warehouses and brue 
houses from the Mill Bridgh down half way to the Draw 
Bridgh." 

1098, Nov. G. — INIr. James Russell of Charlestown and Mr. 
John Ballentine of Boston, or " whoever else may be concerned, 
or owners of the bridge over the Mill Creek, are ordered forth- 
with to repair the pavement on each side of the bridge, and to 
move the gutters beside it, that it might be passable for horse 
and cart, according to the grant of the Town, or pay 205. a 
week till it should be done." 

1712, March. 10. — Ordered to make the draw-bridge (so 
called) in Ann Street a fast, firm bridge the width of the street. 
A committee was appointed to inquire if any damage be sus- 
tained by anybody in making the bridge in question a "fast 
bridge." 

THE MILL POND. 

The Mill Pond was formed by the building of a 
causeway across the head of the cove, as the street 
now runs, where there was, it would seem, a sort of 
Indian causeway, or pathway, at some prior time. 
Jt is represented by writers on the subject to have 
been built from Leverett Street to the Charlestown 



22 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

Ferry ; but as this would include the creek, built 
some ten or twelve years before, this seems to be im- 
possible ; for if the creek was connected with the 
pond, without a gate to shut it off, there could be no 
mill-power. The creek, therefore, must have been 
separated from the pond by a gate, while there was a 
gate from the pond into Charles River. 

However, the causeway was built, and the mill- 
pond and the water-power it furnished, used for 
more tlian a hundred 3'ears without any special pub- 
licity or inquiry concerning them. In fact, it would 
seem as if the subject, and the large piece of territory 
involved, had been pretty much forgotten ; so that 
in 1765, in March, a committee was appointed to in- 
quire " by what terms the mill-owners lield the mill- 
pond mills." In May following, this committee re- 
ported, that on the 31st of July, 1643, there was 
granted to Henry Simons, George Burden, John Hill, 
and their partners, all the cove on the north-west 
side of the causeway leading towards Charlestown, 
with all the salt marsh bordering thereupon, not for- 
merly granted, on these conditions : that within 
three years they erect thereon one or more corn-mills, 
"and maintain the same forever; also make a gate 
ten feet wide to open with the flood for the passage 
of boats into the cove," &c. This gate was also to 
be " maintained forever." 

The Mill Pond, it is said, included about fifty 
acres, — nearly as large as the north end island, — 
and, of course, must have furnished during the time 
it was available — from an hour or two after full tide 
until an hour or two before the next tide, niqht and 



TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. 23 

day — a very large and extensive water-power, and 
was, no doubt, though probably not half used, a very 
valuable property. 

It is stated by Drake, as if it were a consequence 
of the action of the committee, that, " four years after 
the above report, a committee took possession of the 
premises, as having reverted to the town." These 
proceedings, it will be noticed, all refer to the " mill- 
pond mills," but may be presumed to include the 
pond and the whole grant made in 1643 ; so that in 
1769 the property was in the hands of the town, as 
appears from these statements. 

After this time, by some means or other, the Mill 
Pond Company, or Corporation, came into possession 
of the property, as Shaw says, " for the consideration 
of five dollars ; " and in 1807, the town became a 
partner in the matter of filling it up, the town to 
have the streets, we presume, and one-eighth of the 
lots filled within twenty years. Permission was also 
given to use the gravel of Beacon Hill for the pur- 
pose. The filling was completed more than fifty 
years ago, and the entire space has long been covered 
with buildings, and in 1832 included a theatre. The 
Boston and Maine Railroad Station stands over the 
creek ; and the large depot buildings of the Fitch- 
burg, Eastern, and Lowell Railroads are all on land 
taken from the river outside the ancient causeway : 
so that no one of the great railroad depots in the city 
stands upon the original land of the town. 



24 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 



CONCLUSION". 

Thus we have seen what were the features and 
topographical characteristics of the original peninsula 
which forms the groundwork, as it were, of the city 
proper of to-day. In the steady march of progress 
and improvements which have marked its growth for 
two hundred and fifty years, such changes and en- 
largements have been made, that neither its early 
outlines or its original shape are any where to be 
observed. The great coves on either side of the 
town have disappeared ; and the renowned Tri-moun- 
tain, around which so much of history gathered, and 
so much of Puritanism and patriotism were enshrined, 
is shorn of its ancient prestige, although still, as it 
were, the summit of State authority ; and of " Corne 
Hill," whereon the settlers of Boston, Charlestown, 
Eoxbury, and Dorchester, in 1632, built the first fort 
for the defence of the settlement, not a vestige now 
remains. 

Yet, broad and extensive as these improvements 
and enlargements of the original jDeninsula have been, 
they are at least equalled, if not exceeded, by what 
has been accomplished in other parts of the town ; 
so that Boston proper — at first two islands, or nearly 
so, and afterwards a peninsula — lias long ceased to be 
either the one or the other, and must now be regard- 
ed as a portion of the mainland. And this, too, 
while Charles River, by encroachments upon its bed 
on both sides, the numerous wharves projecting into 
it, and the bridges, railroads, and other structures 
resting upon its bottom, has been reduced in its pro- 



TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. 25 

portions to one-third of its original size, and, in fact, 
has ahnost ceased to be a river in the proper sense of 
that term. So also on the sonth side of the town ; 
Four Point Channel, which reached to Dover-street 
bridge, is now a narrow stream ; and tlie South 
Bay, which lay between Roxbury and South Boston, 
has been greatly reduced in its proportions, and is 
crossed by the New Enghind Railroad. So that it 
may be said, the city proper to-day stands consoli- 
dated on one side of the ancient neck with Roxbury 
and Dorchester, and on the other with Roxbury and 
Brookline. There still remain, however, a section of 
Charles River, forming a bay of itself, between Bos- 
ton, Cambridge, and Brookline, and a considerable 
portion of the South Bay between Roxbury and South 
Boston. Brookline — originally Muddy Brook — 
was formerly considered as belonging to Boston, and 
its lands were apportioned among the early settlers of 
the town for agricultural purposes and the keeping of 
cattle. It is now nearly surrounded by the enlarged 
city, Brighton and Roxbury both belonging to Bos- 
ton. 

There is, however, one feature of Boston which 
may be said to remain intact, and that is Boston 
Common. When the settlers bought the peninsula of 
William Blackstone, or all his interest in it, excepting 
six acres, which he reserved for his own occupation, 
" the town laid out a place for a training-field, which 
ever since and now is used for that purpose, and for 
the feeding of cattle." This was undoubtedly the 
origin of Boston Common ; and the date of the trans- 
action, as appears from the town records, was on 



26 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

"the 10th daye of the 9th month, 1634," which, as 
the year commenced with March, would be Novem- 
ber, 1634. It has undergone many changes, some 
enlargement by filling up the marsh on the river 
side, and numerous improvements in its general 
appearance by laying out its malls and walks, setting 
out trees, excluding cattle, walling around Crescent 
Pond (formerly Frog Pond), introduction of the 
Cochituate water and fountains, and, last, by the 
erection of the Army and Navy Monument on its 
highest elevation, once occupied as a fortification 
against its rightful owners by Gen. Gage and Gen. 
Howe. 

Thus we have seen Boston as it was in 1630 and 
subsequent years, — originally one of three prominent 
peninsulas on the coast of New England, known by 
the Indians as Shawmut, Mishawam, and Mattapan, 
and afterwards, by the settlers, as Boston, Charles- 
town, and Dorchester (now South Boston). Each of 
these was connected with the mainland by a narrow 
neck of its own, and now all three, with the addition 
of Roxbury, West Roxbury, Brighton, and Noddle's 
Island (East Boston), are included in the present 
metropolis, wliile Muddy Brook (Brookline) and 
Winnisimmet (Chelsea), which were originally at- 
tached to Boston, are not included within her present 
limits. The growth and expansion of the town, we 
judge, are unparalleled, in some respects, by any 
other city in the world, with a character of her own 
and a position in the history of the country of which 
she may well be proud. 



11. 

THE PUBLIC FERRIES. 



THE GREAT FEERY. 

The first settlers of Cliarlestown and Boston of 
course saw an immediate necessity for the establish- 
ment of ferries on both sides of them ; so that, after 
considerable numbers had arrived, this became im- 
perative, especially that across Charles River, — " the 
great ferr}^" as it was afterwards called. This 
may be called the first public enterprise undertaken 
by tlie colonists. There was, no doubt, from the first, 
means of crossing the river furnished by individuals 
before any public action had taken place, just as was 
done by Samuel Maverick at Noddle's Island, who 
was disposed and prepared to accommodate every- 
body that came along. Measures were taken for the 
establishment of the Cliarlestown Ferry soon after 
the arrival of Gov. Winthrop's party at Cliarlestown. 
At a meeting of the Court of Assistants, holden at 
Boston, Nov. 10, 1630, — present the governor, deputy- 
governor, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlowe, 
Capt. Endicott, Mr. Coddington, Mr. Pinchon, and 
Mr. Bradstreet, — ''It is further ordered, That who- 
soever shall first give in his name to ^Ir. Governor 
that he will undertake to set up a ferry betwixt Bos- 
ton and Charlestown, and shall begin the same at 

27 



28 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

such time as Mr. Governor shall appoint, shall have 
Id. for every person and Id. for every 100 weight of 
goods he shall transport." 

The ferry was no doubt undertaken at this time 
by Edward Converse ; and, probably as it did not 
then pay very well, in June 14, 1631, an order was 
passed, " That Edward Converse, who had under- 
taken to set up a ferry between Boston and Charles- 
town, be allowed 2d. for every single joerson, and Id. 
apiece, if there be two or more." 

The lease to Mr. Converse, in 1631, was renewed 
Nov. 9, 1636, in form as follows : " The Governor and 
treasurer, by order of the general court, did demise 
to Edward Converse the ferry between Boston and 
Charlestown, to have the sole transporting of pas- 
sengers and cattle from one side to the other, for 
three years from the first da}^ of the next month, for 
the yearly rent of forty pounds to be paid quarterly 
to the treasurer : Provided, that he see it be well at- 
tended and furnished with sufficient boats ; and that 
so soon as may be in the next spring he set up a 
convenient house on Boston side, and keep a boat 
there as need shall require. And he is allowed to 
take his wonted fees, viz., 2d. for a single person, and 
pence apiece, if there be more than one, as well on 
lecture days as at other times ; and for every horse 
and cow Avith the man which goeth with them 6d.^ 
and for a goat ItZ., and a swine 2d. And if any shall 
desire to pass before it be light in the morning, or 
after it is dark in the evening, he may take recom- 
pence answerable to the season and his pains and 
hazard, so as it be not excessive." 



WINNISIMMET FERRY. 29 

The ferry was a great accommodation, of course, 
and could not be dispensed with. Johnson mentions 
it quite early in his '" Wonder-Working Providence." 
In speaking of Charlestown, the "neighbor of Bos- 
ton, being in the same fashion, with her bare 
neck," he says "there is kept a ferry-boat to convey 
passengers over Charles River, which, between the 
two towns, is a quarter of a mile over, being a very 
deep channel." But at times, no doubt, the ferry 
proved troublesome and annoying. So that in the 
month of October, 1632, Mr. Winthrop records that 
"about a fortnight before this, those of Charlestown, 
who had formerly been joined to Boston congrega- 
tion, now, in regard of the difficult}^ of passage in 
tlie winter, and having opportunity of a pastor, one 
Mr. [Edward] James, who came over at this time, 
were dismissed from the conof-reofation of Boston." 
This, it was said, was after a rather boisterous sum- 
mer on the bay and harbor. 

WINNISIMMET FERRY. 

At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of 
May, 1631, there were present INIr. Winthrop, gov- 
ernor ; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor ; Mr. Ludlowe, 
Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Brad- 
ford, assistants (at which the governor and lieu- 
tenant-governor were chosen), — " Thomas Willins 
[Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook 
to sett up a ferry between Winnisimmet and Charles- 
town, for which he is to have after three pence a 
person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence 
a person." Mr. Savage, in a note to Winthrop's 



30 CURIOSITIES OF HISTOIIY. 

journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at Noddle's 
Island, says, "Winisemet Ferry, both to Charles- 
town and Boston, was also granted to him forever." 
He certainly did conduct a ferry on one or both 
these routes for a time. 

Jan. 23, 1G35. — '' Thomas Marshall was chosen by 
general consent for ye keeping of a ferr}^ from Milne 
Point [Copps' Hill] vnto Charlestowne, and to 
Wynnyseemitt, and to take for his ferrying vnto 
Charlestowne, as ye ferryman there hath, and vnto 
Wynnyseemitt for a single psn six pence ; and for 
every one above ye number of two, two pence 
apiece." It is not probable that this ferry was con- 
tinued for many years. 

In December, 1637, Edward Bendall was " to 
keepe a sufficient ferryboate to carry to Noddle's 
Island and to the shippes ryding before the Town: 
taking for a single person ijcl. and for two 3c?." 

GRANT TO HARVARD COLLEGE. 

In 1640, the Charlestown Ferry was granted to 
Harvard College, to the support of which the town 
had been annually contributing, and had received 
from the ferry fifty pounds for the year previous, 
1639. This grant was continued, and, for nearly one 
hundred and fifty years before the bridge was built, 
it was a source of very handsome ii come to the 
institution. In 1644, it appears by the records of 
the town, William Bridge was appointed to keep the 
ferry in place of Mr. Converse, and "to have a penny 
a person for each that goes over, except they agree 
with him by the year, and two pence a person for 



CHARLESTOWN FERRY. 31 

each that goes over unseasonably^" When the bridge 
was built in 1785, the gratuity to the college was 
continued by the terms of the Act authorizing it ; 
and the sum of two hundred pounds per year was 
paid to it in commutation of its claim to the ferry. 

Johnson, in his '' Wonder-Working Providence," 
describes Boston as surrounded by the brinish floods, 
and as having, on the north-west and north-east, '• two 
constant Faires, kept for traffique thereunto." A 
ferry to Cambridge is spoken of in 1652 ; and in the 
fall of that year Mr. Cotton took cold in crossing it, 
and died soon after. 

COMPLAINTS OF THE FERRYMEN. 

In 1648, "the ferrymen, Francis Hudson and 
James Heyden, state in a petition to the General 
Court, that the ferry never was less productive : that 
contrary to law disorderly passengers would press 
into the boats, and on leaving refuse to pay their 
fare ; that some pleaded they had nothing to pay, 
and others that they were in the country's service. 
And they further state, that the payment generally 
tendered was 'usually in such refuse, unwrought, 
broken, unstringed and unmerchantable peag' 
(wampum), at six a penn}^ that they lost two pence 
a shilling, being forced to take peag at six a penny 
and pay it at seven. They petition that if the Court 
intend 'all soldiers with their horses and military 
furniture be fare-free,' that they might be paid for 
it by the colony : that strangers, not able to pay, 
may be ordered to give in their names: tliat the 
'peag hereafter to us paid may be so suitably in 



o2 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

known parcels handsomely stringed, and tlieir value 
assigned, that it may henceforth be a general, cur- 
rent and more agreeable pay.' 

At a session of the General Court, at Boston, the 
10th of the eight month, 1648, '' For preventing 
ferry men's Damage by Persons not paying, &c., it 
shall be lawful for any Ferry man to demand and 
Receive his due before his Boat put off from the 
Shore, nor shall he be bound to pass over any that 
shall not give satisfaction, & any Ferry Man may re- 
fuse any wampum not stringed or Unmerchantable 
and such persons whether Horse or Foot which are 
passage fiee by Order of the Court must show 
something sufficient for their Discharge, or else pay 
as others do, except Magistrates and Deputies, &c., 
who are generally known to be free." 

And again, Oct. 18, the Court ordered that "all 
'payable peag ' should be ' entire without breaches, 
both the white and the black, suitably strung in 
eight known parcels. Id., 3t?., 12d., 5s., in white ; 
and 2c?., Qd., 2-Gd., and 10s., in black.' The Court 
also ordered that for transporting officers in the 
colony service, the ferrj'men should be allowed £4 
per annum for the past, and £6 per annum for the 
time to come." 

PEAG, OR INDIAN MONEY. 

"Peag," or "wampum," or "wampumpeag," simply 
means stringed shells of a peculiar kind, or Indian 
money ; and this, it seems, came early into use, as 
Hubbard says, " The people of New Plymouth, in the 
year 1627, began trade with the Dutch at Manhados, 



PENNY FERRY. 33 

and there they had the first knowledge of Wanipum- 
peag, and their acquaintance therewith occasioned 
the Indians of those parts to learn to make it." 
Hutchinson thinks the New England Indians, prior 
to this time, had not ''any instrument of commerce:" 
and speaks of the Narragansetts as coining money, 
making pendants and bracelets, and also tobacco 
pipes. There seems, hoAvever, to have been among 
the Massachusetts settlers some other kinds of money 
in use, as, in 1635, the court ordered that brass far- 
things shall be discontinued, and that musket-balls 
shall pass for farthings. 

PENNY FERRY. 

Penny Ferry, across the Mystic River, where the 
Maiden Bridge now is, was established by the town 
in April, 1640, when it was voted, " That Philip 
Drinker should keep a ferry at the Neck of Land, witli 
a sufficient boat, and to have 2d. a single person, and 
a penny a piece when there go any more." It was 
not a source of any profit to the town for many years. 

Ii] 1651, the Penny Ferry was granted for a year to 
Philip Knight, who appears to have had the income 
of it for taking care of it, he agreeing "to attend 
the ferry carefully, and not to neglect it, that there 
be no just complaint." 

In 1698, Judge Sewall makes the following entry 
in his diary : " Februar}^ 19, I go over the ice and 
visit Mr. Morton, who keeps his bed. 21st, I rode 
over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower's 
(Chelsea), so to Mr. Wigglesworth. The snow was 
so deep that I had a hard journey — could go but a 



34 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

foot pace on Mystic river, the snow Avas so deep. 
26th, a considerable quantity of ice went awa}^ hist 
night, so that now there is a glade of water along 
Governor's island, about as far as Bird island. 28th, 
a guard is set upon Charles River to prevent persons 
from venturing over on the ice for fear of drowning ; 
and the ferrymen are put upon cutting and clearing 
the ice, which they do so happil}^, that I think the 
boat passeth once a day." 

CHARLESTOWN FERRY. 

The use of the ferry was confined to foot-passen- 
gers entirely at first; and afterwards, when larger 
boats were built, chaises were allowed, as the com- 
mon riding or travelling vehicle of the time. It 
would seem that double tolls had been demanded on 
certain days; and in 1783, when the names of the 
ferrvmen were presented to the town for approval, it 
was agreed, on their not taking double ferriage on 
those days, and their faithful promise to the same, to 
approbate them. It seems almost wonderful — but it 
is a fact — that this ferrj^ was kept up as the sole 
means of communication, excepting the journey 
around through Roxbury and Cambridge, for more 
than one hundred and fifty years. It was over this 
ferry that the people came to Boston to assist in the 
fortification upon Corne Hill (Kort Hill) in May, 
1632, and at other times for similar purposes. It was 
over this ferry also, on the 18th of April, 1680, that 
the troops came, in the time of the Andros Rebellion, 
to assist in maintaining the rights of the people at 
this early period in the history of the town. There 
were twenty companies in Boston, and it was said 



CHARLESTOWN FERRY. 35 

about fifteen hundred men at Charlestown that could 
not get over. Andros was imprisoned, the first 
charter of the colony dissolved, and Thomas Dan forth 
came in as deputy-governor. On many other occa- 
sions during the long period of its continuance, and 
in cases of fire in Boston, the ferry had large duties 
to perform ; and it is wonderful how it was ever 
made to answer its purposes for so long a time. 

1741. — Oldmixon, in his "History of the British 
Empire in America " (" The History of New Eng- 
land," as a part of it is called), says, " Charlestown, 
the mother of Boston, is much more populous than 
Cambridge, and exceeds it much in respect of trade, 
being situated between two rivers. Mystic River and 
Charles River, and parted from Boston only by the 
latter, over which there is a ferry so well tended that 
a bridge would not be much more convenient, except 
in winter, when the ice will neither bear nor suffer a 
boat to move through it. Though the river is much 
broader about the town, it is not wider in the ferry 
passage than the Thames between London and South- 
wark. The profits of this ferry belong to Harvard 
College in Cambridge, and are considerable. The 
town is so large as to take up all the space between 
the two rivers." 

In 1763, April, the running of a stage-coach was 
commenced between Boston and Portsmouth, N.H., 
once a week, — out on Friday, and return on Tuesday. 
It is said, that, " owing to the trouble of ferrying the 
stage and horses over Charles River, they were kept 
at Charlestown, at the sign of the Three Cranes." 
The practice with this, and very likely other stage- 
lines, probably continued until the bridge was built. 



oG CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

The memorable night, April 18, 1775, when Paul 
Revere crossed Charles River, near the ferry, is 
of course well remembered. During the occupation 
of Boston Harbor by the British navy, the boats of 
the ferry were drawn up alongside the men-of-war 
ever}^ night at nine o'clock, and there was no passing- 
after that hour ; but it seems that Revere kept a 
boat of his own at the north end, and emploj^ed two 
men to row him across, " a little to the eastward 
where the ' Somerset ' man-of-war lay." He landed 
at Charlestown below the ferr}^ and says, " I told 
them what was acting, and went to get me a horse," 
and then pursued his momentous ride to Lexington. 

Imagine the continuance of this ferry, as the usual 
means of crossing the river between Boston and 
Charlestown, for a period of more than one hundred 
and fifty years ! and all this time probably without the 
use of sails, as the stream at this point was very nar- 
row and the currents very strong, and certainly with- 
out the power of steam, now so generally applied to 
ferries all over the country. There was, no doubt, in 
the winter season, a good deal of passing on the ice. 
The Winnisimmet Ferry, for many years prior to the 
introduction of steam, was operated by the use of 
large sail-boats for foot-passengers only. 

It is said that the Indian name of Charles River 
was Quimobequin, and that on Capt. Smith's map of 
1614, it is called Massachusetts; and Hutchinson 
says, '^Prince Charles gave the name of Charles 
river to what had been before called Massachusetts 
river." Smith himself says he called it Charles 
River ; still Hutchinson may be right. 



III. 



THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS. 



It will hardly be realized at the present time that 
Boston, or the peninsula which originally comprised 
the town, was ever occupied by cornfields, or, as one 
may almost say, as a cornfield. If there were corn- 
fields, as we assume there were, the curious thing 
about them is, that we know so little of them; for it 
can scarcely be said that they hold a place in history. 
There are, in fact, no definite statements about them ; 
and a mystery seems to hang over them as to where 
they were, who owned them, who cultivated them, 
and what was done with the harvest. "Were they 
private property or public property ? We have not 
been able to find in contemporary or subsequent his- 
tory any account of the Boston cornfields that will 
enable us with certainty to answer this question. 
The fair inference from statements made, however, 
is, that they were to some extent both public and 
private property. Perhaps the first allusion to them 
to be found in any record is that in 1632, — and there 
could have been no corn planted in Boston earlier 
than 1631, unless by Blackstone, — and this allusion 
is in the name of " Corne Hill." In 1632, May 24, 
" it was agreed to build a fort in that part of Boston 

37 



38 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

called Coriie Hill," meaning what thereafter was 
called Fort Hill ; and one historical writer, quoting 
the record, says a fortification was begun on " the 
corn hill ; " and that was probably the only Corn 
Hill at that time. The question naturally arises, 
Why was it called Corn Hill ? and the almost neces- 
sary answer to the question is, Because it was where 
corn was grown. 

There can be no doubt that it became necessarj", 
as early as possible, for the settlers to seek means for 
their future subsistence. The stock and supply of 
provisions brought over were, no doubt, for a time 
and under certain regulations, a common stock ; and 
possibly some of Gov. Winthrop's party had supplies 
of their own in addition thereto. But, at all events, 
prudence and self-preservation required immediate 
attention to the cultivation of the soil and the raisinc^ 
of corn and other grains. 

In 1628 (1629), before the arrival of Gov. Win- 
throp and his company at Charlestown, the place had 
been occupied by the Spragues, from Salem, under 
the direction of Mr. Graves, an agent of the com- 
pan}-; and one of the first things the}^ did was "to 
model and lay out the form of the town, with streets 
about the hill," which was approved by Gov. Endi- 
cott. They next "jointly agreed and concluded that 
each inhabitant have a two acre lot to plant upon 
and all to fence in common." The same year Mr. 
Graves wrote to England, " The increase of corne 
is here farre beyond expectation," showing that it 
had been grown, and m.ost probably in the common 
cornfield; for it is afterwards said that Thomas 



THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS. 39 

Walford " lived on the south end of the westermost 
hill of the East Field." Another vote was passed the 
next year, 1630, — probably before the arrival of Gov. 
Winthrop, — that each person " dwelling within the 
neck, shall have two acres of land for a house plot, 
and two acres for every male that is able to plant." 

In the months of June and July, 1630, Gov. Win- 
throp and his party arrived at Charlestown, after a 
passage by some of the ships of seventeen or eigh- 
teen weeks, many of them sick of the scurv3^ " The 
multitude set up cottages, booths and tents about 
the Town Hill ;" and it is said "provisions were ex- 
•ceedingly wasted, and no supplies could now be 
expected by planting ; besides, there was miserable 
damage and spoil of provisions at sea." Many of the 
party died, — some two hundred before December, — 
and others started out for other locations; and finally 
in September, 1630, by the invitation of Mr. Black- 
stone, the larger part of Gov. Winthrop's party 
crossed the river to Boston. This year there was a 
scarcity of corn, as will be seen by the following 
extract from Hutchinson's history : — 

" In August, 17'24, John Quttamug, a Nipmug Indian, came 
to Boston, above 112 years of age. He affirmed that in 1630, 
upon a message that the English were in want of corn, soon 
after their arrival, he went to Boston with his father, and car- 
ried a bushel and a half of corn all the way on his back ; that 
there was only one cellar began in town, and that somewhere 
near the Common" 

Wood, in speaking of Boston in 1639, says, " This 
place hath very good land, affording rich cornfields 
and fruitful gardens," which, no doubt, were in exist- 



40 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

ence years before he wrote his book. In 1635, it was 
voted, " Each able man is allowed two acres, and each 
able youth one acre to plant." Provision of some 
sort on the subject was no doubt made before this 
time, and gradually reached the regulation here re- 
corded. In 1633, great scarcity of corn is mentioned 
by Winthrop, as lie says, '' By reason of the spoil of 
our hogs, there being no acorns, yet the people lived 
well with fish and the fruit of their gardens." 

Almost as a natural consequence of what has now 
been said, in March, 1636, we find that provision was 
made "for having sufficient fences to the Cornfielde 
before the 14th of the next second month (x^pril) ; 
that for every defect'ive rod then found, five shillings 
penalty ; " and it was further provided, " The field 
toward Rocksber^y to be looked into by Jacob 
Elyott and Jonathan Negoose ; the Fort Hill, by 
James Penn and Richard Gridley ; the INfylne field, 
by John Button and Edward Bendall, and the New 
Field by John Audley and Thomas Faireweather." 

Thus it will be seen, if the rule adopted was carried 
out, that there were four or more large cornfields in 
Boston, and that the principal work of the people 
for a time was the raising of corn. At a later period 
parcels of corn were occasionally presented or sent 
to the governor by the Indians, who had their corn- 
fields before the English people arrived. In fact, it 
is recorded in the next month after the arrival of 
Winthrop, that so much provision had been sold to 
the Indians for beaver, tliat food became scarce ; and 
in October, 1630, a vessel was sent to the Narra- 
ganieetts to trade, and brought home one hundred 



THE BOSTON COR-NFIELDS. 41 

bushels of corn. In May, 1631, corn in Boston was 
ten shillings a bushel, as probably much was required 
for planting at tliis time. In August, 1633, a great 
scarcity of corn was reported ; and in November, the 
next year, a vessel arrived from Narragansett with 
five hundred bushels of Indian corn. It is very clear 
that corn was very early, and for some time, the great 
dependence of the settlers. 

In Plymouth Colony, in 1630, the salary of the 
messenger of the General Court was thirty bushels 
of corn. In 1685, the secretary's wages was fifteen 
pounds a year, payable in corn at two shillings per 
bushel. In 1690, "one third the Governor's salary 
ordered to be paid in money, the rest in corne." 

In 1637, April 16, "all the fences and gates to be 
made up. Sargeant Hutchinson and Richard Gridley 
to look after the Fort Field; John Button, James 
Everett and Isaac Grosse, in the Mill Field ; Wm 
Colburn and Jacob Elyott on the Field next Kox- 
burie." Again, in 1610, March 30, " To look to the 
fences: Richard Fairbanks and William Salter the 
field towards Roxbury ; Benj. Gillam and Edmd 
Jacklyn, the Fort Field ; Wm. Hudson and Edward 
Bend all the New Field ; Mr. Valentine Hill and 
John Button, the Mill Field." 

Dr. Shurtleff, in his "Topographical and Historical 
Description of Boston," enumerates five fields as fol- 
lows, and speaks of them as ungranted lands : " The 
land around Copps' Hill, was known as the Mylne 
Field, or Mill Field ; that around Fort Hill, the Fort 
Field ; that at the Neck, the Neck Field, or the Field 
towards Roxbury ; that where Beacon Hill Place 



42 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

now is, Gentry Hill Field, and that west of Lynda 
Street, and north of Cambridge, the New Mill Field, 
or the New Field." And to show that these were 
not waste lands or pastures, the writer enumerates 
the various pastures for cattle, besides the privileges 
at Muddy Brook and Winnisimmet, as follows : 
"Besides the fields there were many pastures, so 
called : Christopher Stanley's was at the North End, 
covering the region of North Bennet Street, between 
Hanover and Salem Streets ; Buttolph's was south of 
Cambridge Street ; Tucker's, in the neighborhood of 
Lyman Street ; Rowe's, east of Rowe Street ; Wheel- 
er's, where the southerly end of Chauncy Street is ; 
Atkinson's, where Atkinson Street was a few years 
ago, and where Congress Street now is." And besides 
these he names Leverett's on Leverett Street ; Mid- 
dlecott's on Bowdoin Street ; another on Winter and 
Tremont Streets, and, as he says, " a very large num- 
ber of other great lots." 

And strange to say, in all this history, contem- 
porary or modern, in only a single instance, so far as 
we know, are these fields or any one of them spoken 
of as a " cornfielde," and that is in the order of 1636, 
above quoted. There is, however, one other reference 
to them made, in 1657, in the body of instructions 
prepared for the selectmen to guide them in the dis- 
charge of their duties: "Relying on your wisdom 
and care in seeking the good of the town, we recom- 
mend that you cause to be executed all the orders of 
the town which you have on the records," &c., " as 
found in the printed laws under the titles Townships, 
Freeman, Highways, Small Causes, Indians, Corn- 



THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS. 43 

fields," &c., which would assuredly show that there 
were cornfields in the town, distinct from pastures or 
waste lands, undoubtedly laid out and divided among 
the people, as already indicated, for their special 
cultivation. 

If, as we believe, the " fields " enumerated were 
cornfields, and cultivated in the manner suggested, — 
at first one field, and year by year, as necessity should 
require, a new field added, — there would naturally 
become, among a people situated as they were, a 
necessity for a granary for the storing and preserva- 
tion of their crops. Consequently, in the enumeration 
of public buildings in Boston at a later period, we 
find mentioned "a public granary." The burying- 
ground on Trwiiont Street, known as the Granary 
Burying-Ground, was laid out on land taken from 
the Common in 1660, and, of course, took its name 
from the granary, which was built soon after on 
what was afterwards Gentry Street, and now Park 
Street. Shurtleff says the land was first taken 
for the purpose, and "then, when the need -came, a 
building, eighty feet by thirty feet, for a public gran- 
ary, was erected, and subsequently, in 1737, removed 
to the corner, its end fronting on the principal street 
(Tremont). It stood until 1809, when it gave place 
to Park Street Church." So that, though latterly 
for some years used for another purpose, the granary 
stood in Boston for more than one hundred and forty 
3^ears. It is described as a long wooden building, and 
was calculated to hold twelve thousand bushels of 
corn. 

In 1733, it would seem that corn or other grain 



44 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

continued to be grown in Boston, as in October of 
that year it was determined to erect a granary at the 
North End, "not to exceed £100 " in cost. In the 
records of the selectmen, it is called a meal-house, 
and John Jeffries, Esq., and Mr. David Colson, two 
of the selectmen, were to contract for the work on a 
piece of land near the North Mill, belonging to the 
town. 

So that at what time the cultivation of corn ceased 
in Boston, it is impossible to tell ; but it Avould seem, 
from the necessity for a new granary in 1733, that it 
must have continued for considerably more than a 
hundred years after the settlement of the town. 



IV. 
PURITAN GOVERNMENT. 



The early government of the Puritans in Boston 
was a sort of extemporary government, or, as it has 
been described, ''temporary usurpation," — a govern- 
ment of opinions and prejudices, and in small sense a 
government of law. It had some of the features of a 
family government, without system or order. If the 
inhabitant ofPended, or did any thing which was not 
thought proper by the Church, the assistants, or any- 
body else, fine or punishment was pretty sure to fol- 
low. To be sure there was the Massachusetts Colony 
Charter somewhere ; but it is singular that the copy 
of it found among Hutchinson's papers, and since 
printed, is certified to be a " true copy of such letters 
patents under the great seal of England," by John 
Winthrop, Governor, dated " this 19th day of the 
montli called March, 16 i3-lG44." This verbose and 
p'^culiar document gives authority to the company 
in the matter of government in the following elabo- 
rate form : — 

■" And wee do of our further grace, certaine knowledge and 
meere motion give and grant to the said Governor and Com- 
pany and their successors, that it shall and may be lawfull to 
and for the Governour or deputy Governor and such of the 

45 



40 CUJilOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

Assistants and Freemen of the said Company for the tyme 
being as shall be assembled in any of their generall courts 
aforesaid, or in any other courts to be specially summoned 
and assembled for that purpose, or the greater part of them 
(whereof the Governour or deputy Governor and sixe of the 
Assistants to be always seven) from tyms to tyme to make, 
ordaine and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable 
orders, lawes, statutes and ordinances, directions and instruc- 
tions not contrary to the lawes of this our realme of England, as 
well for the settling of the formes and cei-emonies of govern- 
ment and magistracie fitt and necessary for the said plantation 
and the inhabitants there, and for nameing and styling of all 
sorts of officers both superiour and inferiour which they shall 
find needful for that government and plantation, and tho dis- 
tinguiLrhing and setting forth of the severall duties, powers and 
limits of every such office and place, and the formes of such 
oathes warrantable by the lawes and statutes of this our realme 
of England as shall be respectively ministred unto them, for 
the execution of the said several offices and places, as also for 
the disposing and ordering of the elections of such of the said 
officers as shall be annuall, and of such others as shall be to 
succeed in case of death or removall, and ministring the said 
oathes to the new elected officers, and for imposition of lawfull 
fyues, mulcts, imprisonment or other iawfull correction, ac- 
cording to the coarse of other Corporations in this our realme 
of England, and for the directing, ruleing and disposeing of all 
other matters and things whereby our said people inhabiting 
there may be so religiously, peaceably and civily governed, as 
theire good life and orderly conversation may winne and incite 
the natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of 
the onely true God and Saviour of mankind and the christian 
faith, which in our royall intention and the adventurers free 
profession is the principal end of this plantation." 

The charter goes on to give authority to com- 
manders, captains, governors, and all other officers 
for the time being, "to correct, punish, pardon, gov- 



PURITAN GOVERNMENT. 47 

ern and rule all such the subjects of us, our heires 
and successors, as shall from tyme to tyme adventure 
themselves in any voyage thither or from thence, or 
that shall at any tyme hereafter inhabit within the 
precincts and parts of New England aforesaid, accord- 
ing to the orders, lawes, ordinances, instructions and 
directions aforesaid, not repugnant to the laws and 
statutes of our realme of England as aforesaid." 
And in order to make the laws of these officers 
known, it is provided, as printing would not be prac- 
ticable, that they shall be '' published in writing 
under theire common scale." 

But it would seem, notwithstanding, that the 
authoritj^ exercised by the company was at first ex- 
ecutive rather than legislative ; and Mr. Savage re- 
marks, that the body of the people " submitted at 
first to the mild and equal temporary usurpation of 
the officers, chosen by themselves, which Avas also 
justified by indisputable necessity." The first " Court 
of Assistants" was held at Charlestown, Aug. 23, 
1630; and the first thing propounded was, " how the 
ministers shall be maintained," and it was determined, 
of course, at the public charge. Gov. Winthrop, 
Lieut.-Gov. Dudley, and the assistants were present ; 
and this body carried on the government — what there 
was of it — "in a simply patriarchal manner," until 
"the first General Court or meeting of the whole 
company at Boston, 19 October," 1631, and this was 
held "for the establishing of the government." It 
was now determined that " the freemen should have 
the power of choosing assistants, and from themselves 
to choose a Governor and Lieut. Governor, who with 



48 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

the assistants should have the power of making laws 
and choosing;' officers to execute the same." This is 
the brief history of the origin of a local government 
in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, if it may be so 
called. It was autocratic for the first year and after- 
wards, although fully assented to by a general vote of 
the people. 

At first, of course, there were no laws ; and pun- 
ishments were adjudged and inflicted, under the au- 
thority of the charter, not only for trivial matters, as 
they would be now considered, but for very question- 
able, if not ludicrous, matters, — and all this, it would 
seem, without respect of persons : for, as early as 
Nov. 30, 1630, at a court, it was ordered that one of 
the assistants be fined five pounds for whipping two 
persons without the presence of another assistant, 
contrary to an act of court formerly made ; so that 
this very early exercise of authority was not under a 
law made after the fact. At the same court another 
person was sentenced to be whipped for shooting a 
fowl on the sabbath day; and this, probably, was 
ex post facto. In 1631, a man was fined five pounds 
for taking upon himself the cure of scurvy by a Avater 
of no value, and selling it at a dear rate ; to be im- 
prisoned until he paid the fine, or whipped. In 1632, 
the first thief was sentenced to lose his estate, pay 
double what he had stolen, be whipped, bound out 
for three years, and after that be dealt with as the 
court directs. Other offences, or what not, were 
punished by "- taking life and limb, branding with a 
hot iron, clipping off ears," &c. Indians also were 
proceeded against, in many cases by fines, penalties, 
and punishments. 



PURITAN GOVERNMENT. 49 

John Legge, a servant, was ordered " to be whipt 
this day [May 3, 1631] at Boston, and afterAvards, so 
soon as convenient may be, at Salem, for striking 
Richard Wright." Richard Hopkins was ordered to 
be severely whipped, and branded with a hot iron on 
one of his cheeks, for selling guns, powder, and shot 
to the Indians. Joyce Bradwick was ordered to pay 
Alexander Beck twenty dollars for promising mar- 
riage without her friends' consent, and now refusing 
to perform the same. This was in 1632, and is un- 
doubtedly the first breach-of-promise case that had 
occurred in the colony. 

It was ordered if any one deny the Scriptures to be 
the word of God, to be fined fifty pounds, or whipped 
forty stripes ; if they recant, to pay ten pounds, and 
whipped if they pay not that. A man, who had been 
punished for being drunk, was ordered to wear a red 
D about his neck for a year. 

The case of one Knower, at Boston, 1631, is spoken 
of as curious, showing that the court, usurper and 
tyrant as it was, had no intention of being slighted, 
underestimated, or intimidated. "Thomas Knower 
was set in bilbows for threatening the Court, that if 
he should be punished, ho would have it tried in 
England, whether he was lawfully punished or not." 
And for this he was punished. 

1631. — Philip Radcliffe, for censuring the churches 
and government, has his ears cut off, is whipped and 
banished. 

1636. — If any inhabitants entertained strangers 
over fourteen days, without leave "from those yt are 
appointed to order the Town's businesses," they were 



50 CURIOSITIES OF HISTOKY. 

made liable to be dealt with by the " overseers" (be- 
fore there were selectmen) as they thought advisable. 

In 1637, "a law was made that none should be 
received to inhabit within the jurisdiction but such as 
should be allowed by some of the magistrates ; and it 
was fully understood that differing from the religions 
generally received in the country, was as great a dis- 
qualification as any political opinions whatever." 
On this subject Judge Minot says, ''Whilst they 
scrupulously regulated the morals of the inhabitants 
within the colony, tbey neglected not to prevent the 
contagion of dissimilar habits and heretical principles 
from without. ... No man could be qualified either 
to elect or be elected to office who was not a church 
member, and no church could be formed but by a 
license from a magistrate." 

In 1640, in the case of Josias Plaistow for stealing 
four baskets of corn from the Indians, he was ordered 
to return eight baskets, "to be fined <£5, and to be 
called Josias, and not Mr. Josias Plaistow, as he 
formerly used to be." 

A carpenter was employed to make a pair of stocks ; 
and, it being adjudged that he charged too much for 
his work, he was sentenced to be put in them for one 
hour. A servant, charged with slandering the Church, 
was whipped, then deprived of his ears and ban- 
ished. This punishment was deemed severe, and ex- 
cited some remarks upon the subject. 

A Capt. Stone was fined one hundred pounds 
and prohibited from coming into Boston without the 
governor's leave on pain of death, for calling Justice 
Ludlow a "just-ass." Another party, for being drunk, 



PUEITAN GOVERNMENT. 51 

was sentenced to cany forty turfs to tlie fort ; while 
another, being in the company of drunkards, was set 
in the stocks. 

But finally the Court of Assistants began to make 
laws, or lay down rules of some sort. As for example : 
Every one shall pay a penny sterling for every time of 
taking tobacco in any place. In Plymouth Colony 
the law was less stringent : there a man was "fined 
five shillings for taking tobacco while on a jury, before 
a verdict had been rendered. Absence from church 
subjected the delinquent to a fine of ten shillings or 
imprisonment. Any one entering into a private con- 
ference at a public meeting shall forfeit twelve pence 
for public uses. 1642, Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined 
five shillings for presenting his petition on so small 
and bad a piece of paper ; and this, it seems, was after 
it had been determined " that a body of laws should 
be framed which would be approved of by the Gen- 
eral Couit and some of the ministers as a funda- 
mental code." Notwithstanding this, in all cases, 
like the above, where there was no law, one was 
made, or inferred, to meet the case ; so that, after the 
establishment of a '' fundamental code," there was 
about as much ex post facto law as before. Among 
the laws or orders of the '' fundamental code " was 
one, '-' that no person. Householder or others, shall 
spend his time unprofitably under paine of such 
punishment as the court shall think meet to inflict;" 
and '' the constables were ordered to take knowledge 
of offenders of this kind," and, among others, espe- 
cially tobacco-takers. Another was, " that no person 
either man or woman shall make or buy any slashed 



52 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

clothes, other than one slash in each sleeve and an- 
other in the back ; also all cuttworks, imbroiclered or 
needle workt caps, bands, vayles, are forbidden here- 
after to be made or worn under said penalty — also 
all gold or silver girdles, hatbands, belts, ruffs, beaver 
hats, are prohibited to be bought or worn liereafter, 
under the aforesaid penalty," &c. The penalty is 
such 'punishment as the Court may think meet to 
inflict. 

In addition to these, the code went still further in 
reGTulatino;' the dress of women : " 4th of 7th month 
[September, as the year began with March, until 
1752J, 1639, Boston. No garments shall be made 
with short sleeves, whereby the nakedness of the arm 
may be discovered in the wearing thereof;" and, 
where garments were already made with short 
sleeves, the arms to be covered with linen or other- 
wise. No person was allowed to make a garment for 
women with sleeves more than half an ell wide, and 
" so proportionate for bigger or smaller persons." 

In the matter of currency, it was ordered, in 1634, 
" that musket balls of a full boar shall pass currently 
for farthings apiece, provided that no man be com- 
pelled to take above 12 pence at a time in them." 

It would seem that some of these decisions, or the 
general character of the government, had caused 
some remark, as it was " ordered that Henry Lyn 
shall be whipt and banished the Plantation before 
the 6th day of October next, for writing into Eng- 
land falsely and maliciously against the government 
and execution of Justice here." "Execution of jus- 
tice " is good, we should say. 



PURITAN GOVERNMENT. 53 

Ward, in his " Trip to New EDgland," a very 
coarse and abusive paper, published in London, in 
1706, in a book called " London Spy," says, 
in Boston "if you kiss a woman in publick, tho' 
offered as a Courteous Salutation, if an}^ information 
is given to the Select ^lembers, both shall be whipt 
or fined." He relates, that " a captain of a certain 
ship, who had been a long voyage, happen'd to meet 
his wife, and kist her in the street, for which he 
was fined Ten Shillings, and forc'd to pay the 
Money. Another inhabitant of the town was fin'd 
Ten Shillings for kissing his own wife in his Garden, 
and obstinately refusing to pay the Money, endur'd 
Twenty Lashes at the Gun, who, in Revenge for his 
Punishment, swore he would never kiss her again 
either in Publick or Private." 

John Dunton, in his famous work, " Dunton's Life 
and Errors," speaks of the government, when he was 
in Boston, in 1686. He says, " Let it be enough to 
say. The laws in force here, against immorality and 
prophaneness, are very severe. Witchcraft is pun- 
ish\l with death, as 'tis well known ; and theft with 
restoring fourfold, if the Criminal be sufficient. — 
An English woman, admitting some unlawful free- 
doms from an Indian, was forced twelve months to 
wear upon her Right arm an Indian cut in red 
cloath." 

The "Body of Liberties," as it was strangely 
called, contained an hundred laws, which had been 
drawn up pursuant to an order of the General Court, 
by Nathaniel Ward, pastor of the church at Ipswich, 
who had been formerly a practitioner of law in Eng- 



54 CUKIOSITIES OF HISTOKY. 

land ; and this book was printed by Daye, the first 
printer, at Cambridge in 1641. (Thomas, p. 47.) 

There was also published in 1649 a ''Book of Gen- 
eral Laws and Liberties, concerning the Inhabitants of 
Massachusetts." By these, gaming by shuffle-board 
and bowling at houses of entertainment, where there 
was "much waste of wine and beer," were prohibited 
under pain for every keeper of such house twenty 
shillings, and every person playing at said games, five 
shillings. For " damnable heresies," as they were 
called, banishment was the appropriate punishment. 

Oldmixon mentions a singular law. He says, " The 
goodness of the pavement may compare with most in 
London : to gallop a horse on it is 3 shillings and 
four pence forfeit." This was more than a hundred 
years after the settlement of the town, and less than 
forty years before the commencement of the revolu- 
tionary war. 

A letter from London, from Edward Howes to his 
relative, J. Winthrop, jun., dated April 3, 1632, says, 
" I have heard divers complaints against the severity 
of your government, especially Mr. Endicott's, and 
that he shall be sent for over, about cutting off the 
lunatick man's ears and other grievances " (Savage's 
Winthrop, p. 66, vol. 1). 

In respect to the levying of fines. Gov. Winthrop, 
who was accused of not demanding their payment in 
some cases, remarked, '' that in his judgment, it were 
not fit in the infancy of a Common^vealth to be too 
strict in levying fines, though severe in other punish- 
ments." 

It has been well said that " religion and laws were 



PUPaXAN GOVERNMENT. 55 

closely intertwined in the Puritan community ; the 
government felt itself bound to expatriate every dis- 
orderly person, as much as the church was bound to 
excommunicate him. They were like a household. 
They had purchased their territory for a home ; it 
w^as no El Dorado ; it was their Mount of Sion. With 
immense toil and unspeakable denials, they had res- 
cued it from the wild woods for the simple purpose 
that they might have a place for themselves and their 
children to worship God undisturbed. They knew 
nothing of toleration. Their right to shut the door 
against intruders seemed to them as undoubted and 
absolute as their right to breathe the air around 
them." 1 

This is the sum and substance of the Puritan gov- 
ernment as long as it lasted. Under the charter, or 
without the charter, they made such laws as they 
pleased, before or after the occasion. They pun- 
ished every thing which they thought to be wrong, 
or which did not conform to their notions of pro- 
priety or their practice, and this, too, without con- 
sistency or discrimination. 

In 1639, Winthrop says, " The people had long de- 
sired a body of laws, and thought their condition 
very unsafe, while so much power rested in the dis- 
cretion of the magistrates. Divers attempts had 
been made at former courts, and the matter referred 
to some of the magistrates and some of the elders, 
[the church and state, in such cases, were invaria- 
bly united,] but still it came to no effect, for being 

1 The New England Tragedies in Prose, by Ptowland H. Allen. 



56 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

committed to the care of so many, whatsoever was 
done by some, was still disliked or neglected by 
others." So that it is doubtful if they ever really 
had a set of laws that were relied upon ; that limited 
the discretion of the magistrates, or was ever reason- 
ably and impartially enforced. If the law failed to 
be adequate, it seemed to be proper for the magis- 
trate to make it so ; and he not onl}^ supplied the 
deficiency, but occasionally coined or misconstrued a 
law for his purpose. Such a government might well 
be considered " unsafe." 



THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. 



VISIT TO BOSTON. 

The Narragansett Indians were one of the largest, 
if not the very largest, tribe in New England, at the 
time of the arrival of the Puritans ; and they were 
especially friendly to the settlei'S. They lived along 
the coast, from Stonington to Point Judith, on Nar- 
ragansett Bay. '' They consisted," says Hutchinson, 
" of several lesser principalities, but ail united under 
one general ruler, called the Chief Sachem, to whom 
all others owed some kind of fealty or subjection." 
The Nianticks were considered as a branch of tlie 
Narragansetts, having very likely been conquered by 
them, and brought under their subjection. 

A letter of Roger Williams, who was intimate 
with, and a strong friend of, the Narragansett 
Indians, says they were '^ the settlers' fast friends, 
had been true in all the Pequot wars, were the means 
of the comino- in of the Mohe^^ans, never had shed 
English blood, and many settlers had had experience 
of the love and desire of peace which prevailed 
among them." 

In October, 1636, after the murder of Mr. Oldham, 
Gov. Vane invited their sachem, Miantonomo, to visit 
Boston, which he soon after did, bringing with him 

67 



58 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

another sachem, two sons of Canonicus, and about 
twenty men. The governor sent twenty musketeers 
to Roxbury to meet them and escort them into town. 
The sachems and their council dined together in the 
same room with the ofovernor and his ministers. 
After dinner a friendl}^ treat}^ was made with Mian- 
tonomo, and signed by the parties ; and, although at 
this time the English thought the Indians did not 
understand it, they kept it faithfully : but the Eng- 
lish, who were afterwards instrumental in the death 
of Miantonomo, did not. Tlte Indians were subse- 
quently escorted out of town, " and dismissed with a 
volley of shot ; " and the famous Roger Williams was 
appointed to explain the treaty to the Indians. 

In this treaty, Canonicus, who was the chief sachem 
of the tribe, and is said to have been '' a just man, 
and a friend of the English," was i-epresented by 
Miantonomo, his nephew, whom Canonicus, on ac- 
count of his age, had caused to assume the govern- 
ment. The deputation that Gov. Vane sent to the 
Narragansetts in the matter of the murder of Mr. 
Oldham, speak of Canonicus "as a sachem of much 
state, great command overliis men, and much wisdom 
in his answers and the carriage of the whole treaty ; 
clearing himself and his neighbors of the murder, and 
offering assistance for revenge of it." Johnson 
represents Miantonomo " as a sterne, severe man, of 
great stature and a cruel nature, causing all his 
nobility and such as were his attendants to tremble 
at his speech." 



THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. 59 



INDIAN ART. — CURIOUS MARRIAGE. 

The Narragansetts not only coined money (wam- 
pmnpeag), but manufactured pendants and bracelets, 
— using shells, we presume, for these purposes. They 
also made tobacco-pipes, some blue and some white, 
out of stone, and furnished earthen vessels and pots 
for cookery and other domestic uses, — so that they 
had several approximations, in these respects, to 
civilization and art, not so distinctly manifested by 
other tribes. They had, in fact, commercial relations 
with other people and distant nations, and, it seems, 
were sometimes sneered at on account of their disin- 
clination for war, — preferring other service. 

There is evidence, also, that they considered them- 
selves — in some respects, at least — superior to 
other Indians ; and this is illustrated by a very curious 
piece of history, said to be " the only tradition of any 
sort from the ancestors of our first Indians." It 
seems that the oldest Indians among the Narragan- 
setts reported to the English, on their first arrival, 
"that they had in former times a sachem called Tash- 
tassuck, who was incomparably greater than any in 
the whole land in power and state." This great 
sachem — who, it would seem, had the power to 
elevate, and, in some respects, enlighten his race — 
had only two children, a son and daughter ; and, not 
being able to match them according to their dignity, 
he joined them together in matrimony, and they had 
■four sons, of whom Canonicus, who was chief sachem 
when the English arrived, was the eldest. There is 
no reason to doubt that the marriage was a happy 



60 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

one, agreeable to the parties, satisfactory to tlie 
parent, and certainly famous in its progeny. 

INTERMARRIAGE AMONG THE EGYPTIANS. 

This probably is the only record of such a marriage 
in this country. The form of family marriage, how- 
ever, it is a matter of history, was common amongf- 
the Egyptians, and probably has been practised more 
or less among all the savage nations of the earth. 
Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy Auletes, on the 
death of her father, was married, according to his 
will, to Ptolemy XII., his eldest son, and ascended 
the throne ; both berng minors, Pompey was appoint- 
ed their guardian. In the wars which followed, her 
husband was drowned, and she then married her 
second brother, Ptolemy (Necteros), a child seven 
years old. Afterwards she became the mistress of 
Ciesar, and subsequently poisoned her boy-husband, 
when at the age of fourteen, because he claimed his 
share of the Egyptian crown. So that, in fact, she 
made war against her first husband, and poisoned her 
second, — a result verj^ different from that recorded of 
the Narragansett intermarriage. 

MURDER OF MIANTONOMO. 

In a subsequent Indian war, 1643, — brought about, 
it is said, by Connecticut, between the Narragansetts 
and the Mohegans, — Miantonomo, by some strange 
accident, fell into the hands of Uncas, who, for fear 
of retaliation, instead of taking his life, sent him to 
Hartford. The Connecticut people, in their turn, 
sent him to Boston, to be judged by the Commission- 



THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. 61 

ers of the United Colonies ; and these commissioners, 
"althougli they had no jurisdiction in the case, nor 
any just ground of complaint against the sachem/' 
came to the conclusion " that Uncas would not be 
safe if he were suffered to live." Drake sa^'s, 
'^ Strange as it may seem, it was with the advice of 
the Elders of the Churches" (Wintlirop says five of 
the most judicious elders) that it was determined 
Uncas might put Miantonomo to death, — a piece of 
barbarism and injustice hardly matched by any con- 
duct of the Indians. He was tahen back to Uncas 
" with a guard of English soldiers," and Uncas readily 
undertook the execution of his victim. When he 
arrived at a place appointed, a brother of Uncas 
'' clave his head with a hatchet." '' Thus inhumanly 
and unjustly perished the greatest Indian chief of 
whom any account is found in New England's 
annals." Canonicus, it is said, was greatly affected 
by the death of his nephew, in whom he always had 
the utmost confidence, and regarded him with the 
fondness of a father. Canonicus died in 1G47. After 
the death of Miantonomo, the Narragansetts were 
never on very good terms with the English, who had 
suspected them once or twice unjustly. Hutchinson 
says, " The Narragansetts are said to have kept to 
the treaty until the Pequods were destroyed, and then 
they grew insolent and. treacherous." It certainly 
appears that they were not well used by the English 
settlers, and it is not surprising that they should grow 
" insolent and treacherous ; " for the treachery appears 
to have been first against them. 



VI. 
NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 



As a matter of course, some of the early names of 
places in and around Massachusetts Bay were Indian 
names or corruptions, until others were applied, as 
Shawmut, Mishawam, Mattapan, Winnisimmet, and 
others. The name of Plj^mouth, of course, the Pil- 
grims brought with them, as the Puritans did the 
name of Salem and of Boston. But just how tlie 
name of Massachusetts originated is not so well 
known. It was no doubt of Indian origin; and if 
derived from the "greatest king of the Indians," 
Massasoit, or, as Hutchinson says, Massasoiet,^ it is 
well that it has been so preserved and perpetuated. 
Among the earliest English names, besides these 
mentioned, were the names applied to the islands, as 
Noddle's Island, which possibly was given to it by 
Maverick, and Bird Island, in 1630 ; Lovell's Island, 
in 1G35, and several others. The names of Black- 
stone, Maverick, and Walford,^ the original settlers 

1 In tlie first interview between Governor Carver of Plymoutli 
and the Indian Cliief Massasoit, "after salutations, the Governor 
kissinsr his liand and tlie kinj; kissing him. tlie Governor entertains 
him with some refreshments, and then they agree on a league of 
friendship." March 22, 1621. 

2 Walford Street, in Charlestown, we believe, has been cut off by 
the Eastern Railroad freight tracks and likely to be lost. 

62 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 63 

of Boston, Noddle's Island, and Charlestown, have 
all been preserved in the names of streets, banks, 
&c., although two of them (Blackstone and Wal- 
ford) were driven away, and the third, though living 
almost alone on Noddle's Island, being an Episcopa- 
lian, was rather severely treated in the general per- 
secutions of the time. Of the Indian nanies, only a 
few of them have been preserved, and are in common 
use, and among them Shawmut, Mishawam, Win- 
nisimmet, and possibly one or two others. In the 
list of nearly two thousand names of streets, places, 
&c., only three Indian names are to be found, name- 
ly, Shawmut, Oneida, and Ontario. 

But perhaps the most curious peculiarity pre- 
vailed with regard to the naming of streets, places, 
taverns, trades, &c., in Boston, before King Street 
and Queen Street had been named, and after they 
had passed awa}^ King Street gave w^ay to State 
Street; Queen Street, which at an earlier date had 
been called Prison Lane, gave way to Court Street: 
still some of the old English name«s remain. Marl- 
borough, Newbury, and Orange, all English names, 
gave w^ay to that of Washington, and this street has 
now been extended, under its latest name, from Hay- 
market Square (Mill Creek) to Brookline (Muddy 
Brook). Formerly it extended from the Gate at the 
Neck to Dock Square, and bore the name of Orange 
Street from the Gate to Eliot's Corner (Essex 
Street) ; Newbury Street from Eliot's Corner to 
Bethune's Corner (West Street) ; Marlborough 
Street from thence to Haugh's Corner (School 
Street) ; and Cornhill from thence to Dock Square. 



64 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTOnY. 



LANES AND ALLEYS. 



The first mention of any alley is that of Paclcly 
Alley- (after a resident), rnnning from Ann to Mid- 
dle Street, 1658, bnt whether so named before or after 
the streets which it connects is not known. Raw- 
son's Lane, afterwards BromfiekVs Lane, and now 
Bromfield Street, 1693; Black Horse Lane, pait of 
wliat is now known as Prince Street, 1698 ; Beer Lane, 
part of Riclnnond Street ; Blind Lane, part of Bed- 
ford Street ; Elbow Alley, which was in the form of a 
crescent, from Ann to Cross Street ; Pndding Lane, 
part of Devonshire Street — all mentioned in 17G8, 
when a list of the names of the streets, lanes, &c., was 
prepared and pnblished by the Selectmen. Among 
these were Frog Lane, Hog Alley, Sheafe Lane, 
Blind Lane, Cow Lane, Flonnder Laoe, Crab Lane, 
&o. Probably all these lanes and alleys were laid out 
or established, at a much earlier date than that men- 
tioned. Sheep Lane was first called Hog Lane, in 

1 William Paddy died in 1G58, and the alley (now North Centre 
Street) bore his name for more than a hundred years. When some 
chanii^es were made in the Old State House, in 1830, to acconjmodate 
the Boston Post Office, a stone was dug up which proved lo be his 
grave-stone, though it is a little difficult to tell how it came there. 
On one side of it was the inscription, "Here lyeth the body of Mr. 
William Paddy, aged 58 years. Departed this life August — , 1658." 
And on the other side, — 

" Here sleaps that 

Blessed one whose lief 

God help vs all lo live 

That so when time shall be 

'J'hat we this world mnst lief 

We ever may be happy 

With blessed William Paddy." 

It may be concluded, we judge, that Paddy's Alley was well 
named. 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. Qo 

1789 ; Tarn-again Alley, at an early date, was near 
Hamilton Place. 

The first lanes and possibly alleys, it has been said, 
were probably cow-paths or foot-paths, but at the end 
of seventy-eight 3'ears, in 1708, they had undoubtedly 
all received names, peculiar as some of them were. 
Most of these lanes — not all of them — were named 
after residents or owners in the neighborhood. The 
alleys were each named after some citizen, excepting 
where there might be some local name or peculiarity, 
as Board Alley, Brick Alley, Crooked Alley ; and so 
of some of the lanes and streets, as Bog Lane, Marsh 
Lane, Well Street, Bath Street, Grape Place, Granite 
Place, and some others. 

NAMES OF CORNERS. 

One of the most curious collections of names in 
the list of 1879, is that of "Corners," not now recog- 
nized, and, we think, never before recorded, though 
occasionally used in defining the limits of streets. 
Over one hundred corners are named in this list, of 
which about eighty of them bear date of 1708 and 
1732. All these are named after persons occupying 
the corners, and among them are the following: An- 
tram's Corner, Ballan tine's, Barrill's, Bill's, Bows', 
and Bull's Corners ; Dafforne's, Frary's, and Frizzel's 
Corners ; Gee's, Meer's, Melynes', Powning's, Ruck's, 
and Winsley's Corners, and there w^ere five Clark's 
Corners in different parts of the town, in 1 708-32. At 
the present time, as in the earl}^ time, the corners of 
streets may be spoken of and referred to, but are not 
recognized as local names of record. 



66 CURIOSITIES OF HISTOHr. 

NAMES OF STREETS, ETC. 

Names, of course, of some kind or other, local, per- 
sonal, or traditionary, must have been very early used 
in the settlement, to designate places, paths, and busi- 
ness, as well as persons and things, and most of these 
liavc been preserved and remembered. In Drake's 
collection of local names there are nearly one thou- 
sand, including the names of islands, wharves, streets, 
taverns, &c., and of these only about twenty are men- 
tioned by date prior to 1700, though many of them 
must have been in use long before that time. In the 
collection of names made by the city government in 
1879, there are about eighteen hundred, not includ- 
ing islands, wharves, or taverns. The earliest dates 
attached to any of the names is that of the Anchor 
Tavern, 1661, and of the Alms House on Sentry or 
Park Street, 1662. 

In the naming of streets, as in the laying of them 
out, there appears to have been neither rule, system, 
or order; but in both matters the action depended 
upon local circumstances, or some public or per.-onal 
influence. It is believed that the first movement in 
laying out the road over the Neck to Roxbury, what 
is now a portion of Washington Street, was in June, 
16S6, as follows : — 

" It is agreed that there shall be a sufficient foot-way from 
William Colebiirne's field-end unto Samuel Wylebore's field-end 
next Roxbury, by the surveyors of highways before the last of 
the next 5th month " (July, 1G36). 

From this it appears that there were at this early 
period surveyors of highways, and that highways, to 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 67 

some extent, were foot-ways. The foot-way in this 
case, to be laid out in one month, extended as sup- 
posed, from the corner of Boylston Street to the 
northerly line of Castle Street, that being the north- 
erly end of Boston Neck; and the road or way laid 
out after this time to Roxbury, was on the easterly 
side of the r)resent Washington Street, all the Avay 
near or on the sea-beach, and probably started from 
near Beach Street. 

I'he next order that we have in relation to the 
streets, is under date of 1636, 4th, 8 mo., which would 
be Oct. 4, 16C6, and is as follows : — 

" At a meeting of the overseers," it was ordered, that " from 
this day there shall be no house at all be built neare unto any 
streetes or laynes therein, but with the consent of the overseers, 
for the avoydiug disorderly building to the inconvenience of 
streetes and laynes and for the more comely and commodious 
ordering of them, upon the forfeiture of such sume as the over- 
seers shall see fitting." 

Soon after this, liberty was granted to Deacon 
Eliot ''to set out his barn six or eight feet into the 
street, at the direction of Colonel Colbron." 

On the 17th of the same month, October, 1636, a 
street and lane were laid out, but names were not 
given to them in the record. 

In May, '1708, ''at a meeting of the selectmen," a 
broad highway was laid out from the old fortifications 
at the Neck, near the present Dover Street, to Deacon 
Eliot's house (near Eliot Street), and called Orange 
Street, and money was appropriated for paving it, 
" provided the abuttors would pave each side of the 
street." A hundred years after this time, the road 



68 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTOKY. 

over Boston Neck to Roxbury, from Waltham Street 
to Roxbury line, was very wide, and paved only in 
the middle portion, so that the travel for years was 
chiefly on the sides of the street. 

In naming the streets, as we have said, there were 
local, personal, and national considerations. As an 
illustration of the latter influence. King and Queen 
Streets, two of the most important streets of the 
town, are well remembered. Possibly before these 
the Puritan names of Endicott, Winthrop, Eliot, 
Leverett, and others, may have been used. The 
names of revolutionary patriots were subsequently 
applied to streets, as Hancock, Adams, Warren, 
Franklin; and these were followed by national 
names, as Union, Congress, and Federal. There was 
also a class of local names, as North, South, Middle, 
Canal, School, Exchange, Water, Tremont, Beacon, 
Margin, Back, Bridge, Pond, High, and Broad, ap- 
plied at different times. Then there were Orange, 
Elm, Chestnut, Walnut, Pine, Cherry, &c., followed, 
it may be, by Sun and Moon, Summer, Winter, and 
Spring. Latterly the names of towns in the State 
have been applied to the streets of the city ; among 
the earliest of these are Salem, Lynn, Cambridge, 
Brighton ; and after these, Arlington, Berkley, 
Clarendon, Dartmouth, and many others. 

LISTS OF STREETS, COURTS, ETC. 

In 1708, a list of the names of streets, places, 
lanes, alleys, &c., in Boston proper, was prepared by 
the Selectmen ; and in this list there were at that 
time forty-four (44) streets recorded ; eighteen (18) 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 69 

alleys ; thirty-three (33) lanes ; tliree squares, 
Church Square, Dock Square, aud Clark Square ; 
two ways, Old Way and Ferry Way ; two hills, 
Snow Hill and Corn Hill; five courts. Half Square 
Court, Corn Court, Minot\s Court, Sun Court, and 
Garden Court ; one row. Merchants' Row ; and two 
markets. Corn Market and Fish Market, making one 
luuidred and ten (110) named places in the town, 
in May, 1708. 

In 1732, there was published in " Vade Mecum," 
a list of streets at that time, and in this list are four- 
teen not in that of 1708, making the number of 
streets sixty, hmes forty-one, alleys eighteen, mak- 
ing in all one hundred and nineteen (119), exclusive 
of squares, courts, &c. 

In 1817, including lanes, alleys, squares, and 
streets, there were 231 in Boston proper, and among 
them were Berry and Blossom, Chestnut and Wal- 
nut, Poplar and Ebn, Myrtle and Vine, and others. 
There Avere at this time, thirty-four wharves. There 
are now probably five times as many streets in Bos- 
ton proper as there were in 1732, a hundred years 
after the settlement of the town, without reckoning 
courts or squares. 

In 1817, Shaw enumerates 229 streets, lanes, &c., 
and afVer this time much attention was given to the 
subject of new streets, naming old ones not before 
accepted, &c., and some of the names were changed. 

In 1879, a complete list of the names of streets, 
avenues, places, courts, squares, corners, &c., that 
have ever been in use, or applied, was prepared by 
order of the city government, and has been printed. 



70 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

This list, of course, shows a surprising increase in 
the number of names over any former record, many 
of which, Ave presume, have never before been re- 
corded, although they may have been to some extent 
in use. In this list nearly two thousand names 
(1795) are printed : of these 554 are streets, of whicli 
some are duplicates. INIany of them are second or 
third names, all of which are recorded, so that the 
list does not represent the number of streets at pres- 
ent in the city proper, but simply the names that 
have keretofore been used, or are now applied to 
them. 

NAMES OF TAVERNS. 

Taverns were early mentioned by names, more or 
less personal and peculiar : one of the first men- 
tioned is the State Arms, where the magistrates 
usually dieted and drank, in King Street, 1C53; Ship 
Tavern, in Ann Street, 1GG6 ; Bunch of Grapes, in 
King Street, 1724 ; King's Head Tavern, near Fleet 
Street, 1755; Queen's Head, in Lynn Street, 1732; 
Ship in Distress, an ancient tavern, opposite Moon 
Street; and if the "ordinaries," spoken of by Cot- 
ton INIather, were taverns, they were very numerous 
and were known as ale-houses, or, as Mather says, 
'' hell-houses." 

BUSINESS NAMES. 

There were numerous curious names in use among 
the tradespeople, as the Six Sugar-Loaves, probably 
a grocer, in Union Street, 1733; Three Sugar-Loaves 
and Canister, grocer, in King Street, 1733 ; two 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 71 

bearing" the sign of Two Sugar-Loaves, one in Corn- 
liill and the other in King Street, 17G0, — all of these 
indicating some active competition in the '^^igar 
trade. Noah's Ark was the sign of a dry-goods 
store in Marlborough Street, 17C9. There were 
signs of the Three Crowns, Three Doves, Three 
Horseshoes, Three Kings, and Three Nuns and a 
Comb. Another class embraced the Bible and 
Heart, afterwards Heart and Crown, corner of Corn- 
hill and Water Streets, 1748 ; Blue Dog and Rain- 
bow, sign of a dyer near Bowling Green, now Cam- 
bridge Street, 1729; Blue Glove, a bookstore on 
Union Street, 1762 ; Brazen Head, Cornhill, opposite 
Williams Court, where the great fire of 1760 com- 
menced, in a dwellingdiouse occupied by Mrs. Mary 
Jackson and son, probably a boarding-house ; Buck 
and Breeches in Ann Street, 1758, near the Draw 
Bridge, Joseph Belknap's sign ; Golden Cock, in 
Ann Street, 1733; Golden Eagle, Dock Square, 
1758; and one of the last things named Avas the 
Whipping Post, in King Street, removed in 1750, 
only twenty 3'ears before the Boston Massacre. 

NAMES OF PEESONS. 

In regard to the names of persons, as well as places 
and things, it is said that there was " a prejudice in 
favor of the Israelitish custom, and a fondness arose, 
or at least was increased, for significant names for 
children." " The three first that were baptized in 
Boston church were Joy, Recompence and Pity. 
The humor spread. The town of Dorchester, in par- 
ticular, was remarkable for such names as Faith, 



72 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

Hope, Charit}^ Deliverance, Depenclance, Preserved, 
Content, Prudent, Patience, TPiankfnl, Hate-evil, 
Holdfast,'' &c. These are prettj' much out of fash- 
ion : possibly the name of " Prudence " nvdj yet be 
found. It is somewhat strange that this " prejudice " 
did not get a more public expression : perhaps Salu- 
tation Alley may be a relic of it. 



The Hangman's Gallows, strange to say, was a 
permanent structure on the Neck, on the east side 
and somewhat in the rear of the burying-ground: 
the pirates were hung there as late as 1815. The 
following peculiar historical names, although well 
known, may be mentioned : Liberty Pole was in 
Liberty Square, at the point of meeting of Water 
and Kilby Streets. It was not restored after the 
Revolutionary War. Liberty Tree, corner of New- 
bury (now Washington) and Essex Streets, nearly 
opposite Boylston Market. It was cut down by the 
British in August, 1775, Green Dragon was the 
sign of a noted tavern in Union Street, licensed in 
1697, and disappeared 1854. The building which 
now occupies the spot in Union Street, displays the 
Green Dragon on its front. The " Orange Tree " 
spoken of in the history of Boston, was on Hanover 
Street. A private school is spoken of as being in 
Hanover Street, "three doors below the Orange 
Tree," and an earlier writer speaks of it as on Queen 
(Court) Street. It was a tavern on or near the cor- 
ner of these streets, probably on the site afterwards 
occupied by Concert Hall. 



NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. 73 

Boston, at the present time, includes South Boston 
(formerly Dorchester), East Boston (formerly Nod- 
dle's Island), Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, 
and Charlestown, and within this territory there are 
now over 2,650 streets, squares, avenues, places, 
courts, &c., and 225 wharves, twenty-nine of which 
are in Charlestown District. Public halls in Boston, 
119, and the number of these is increasing. In 1735, 
there were twelve wards in the town ; revised in 
1805, and now, including the annexations above 
named, there are twenty-five wards. 



VII. 



PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 



Notwithstanding the strange judgments, fines, 
and punishments, made under the civil law or with- 
out law in the colony of Massachusetts, there seems 
to have been another sort of government, or perhaps 
one of the same kind, in relation to spiritual or re- 
ligious things, the administration of which shows such 
a spirit and system of persecution, and such a degree 
of fanaticism, as can hardly be paralleled in history. 
And it would seem also that the two kinds of gov- 
ernment, both in the hands of the same parties, 
might occasionally be found in conflict. In 1655, 
Hutchinson says, " However inconsistent it may 
seem with the professed ecclesiastical constitution 
and the freedom of every church, the general court, 
in several instances, interposed its authority. They 
laid a large fine upon the church at iMalden for 
choosing a minister without the consent and appro- 
bation of the neiixhborino: churches and allowance of 
the magistrates, and there were other similar inter- 
ferences, which, we suppose, were acceded to, and 
that the church was, in fact, under the control of the 
st^ite." And the state, it may be added, was to some 
extent, subordinate to the church. 

74 



PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 75 

The Episcopalians, Anabaptists, Baptists, and 
Quakers, were all treated, or maltreated, with the 
same spirit, though not proceeded against Avith the 
same degree of persistency and malice. The Episco- 
palians were mulcted in heavy fines ^' for contemptu- 
ous and seditious language," but finally overcame all 
difficulties, and became permanently established in 
1686, and built a church in 1G88. The Baptists were 
persecuted in a similar way, bnt finally got a meet- 
ing-house built in 1679, before the Episcopalians. 
The Quakers were persecuted from the first landing 
of some of their number in 1656 to 1667, and even 
later ; and four of them were hanged on Boston Com- 
mon. 

In July, 1656, two Quakers, both women, arrived 
at the settlement from Barbadoes, and soon after 
eight more came from England. In a few days they 
were ordered before the Court of Assistants. Some 
books were found about them or in their possession, 
amounting to a hundred volumes ; and these were 
burned in the market-place, and their owners sent to 
prison. They were condemned as Quakers, kept in 
confinement several weeks, and then sent away; and 
yet it is said there was no law at this time against 
Quakers. After this, stringent laws were made to 
keep them out of the colony. Masters of vessels 
were subjected to one hundred pounds fine if they 
brought a Quaker into the colony, and required to 
give security to take him away; and, if a Quaker 
came into the jurisdiction, he was sent to the house 
of correction, and v/hipped twenty stripes. And the 
next year, further laws w^ere made against the Qua- 



76 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

kers, and against all who befriended or entertained 
them ; who were to be fined forty shillings an hour ; 
and, " if he persisted, the offender was to have one 
of his ears cut off," and, if repeated, he was to lose 
his other ear. If this did not answer, whipping and 
boring the tongue with a hot iron, were to be the 
consequences. 

Notwithstanding these severe proceedings against 
the Quakers, others came into the colon}^ and some 
Avho had been banislied returned to suffer more 
severe punishments. One Myra Clark, wife of a 
merchant tailor of London, came to Boston in 1657, 
to comply with what slie conceived to be a spiritual 
command, and was whipped in a cruel manner. 
About the same time, two men, Christopher Holder 
and John Copeland, were seized in Salem, and, after 
being roughly handled, were " had to Boston." 
Holder, it is said, when lie attempted to speak, had 
his head hauled back by the hair, and his mouth 
stuffed with handkerchief and gloves. At Boston 
they were whipped with a knotted whip, with all the 
strength of the hangman. A man named Shattock 
was imprisoned and whipped for interfering when 
Holder was gagged, and was afterwards banished. 

In the next year, (September, 1658), Holder, Cope- 
land, and another young man named Rouse, had 
their right ears cut off in the prison. A number of 
women were whipped and imprisoned ; and one, 
Katharine Scott of Providence, being in Boston, pro- 
nounced the above punishment in prison, ''a Avork 
of darkness," and was therefore shamefully treated 
and abused, although a mother of children, and " a 



PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 77 

grave, sober, ancient woman." She was publicly 
whipped, and threatened with hanging if found in 
Boston again. 

Three persons known as Quakers, on their way 
from Salem to Rhode Island, to provide a place for 
themselves and families, were arrested by the con- 
stable at Dedham, and sent to Boston, where Gov. 
Endicott set them at liberty, but fined them twelve 
shillings, as it would seem for the stupidity of the 
constable. The constable, no doubt, arrested them 
for fear of beinc^ fined for neo^lect of dutv. 

In 1658-59, persecutions continued fearfully, and 
numbers were arrested, imprisoned, and punished. 
In the latter year, William Robinson, formerly a 
London merchant, Marmaduke Stevenson, and Myra 
(or Mary) Dyar, having returned after banishment, 
were sentenced to be hung ; and the two men were 
hung, Oct. 20. Myra Dyar was upon the hidder, 
her arms and legs tied, and the rope about her neck, 
when, at the urgent solicitation of her son, she was 
spared and sent out of the colony ; but she returned 
again the next year, impressed with the belief that 
her death was necessary to the cause she had es- 
poused, — as fanatical as were the Puritans them- 
selves, — and was hung in June. The bodies of the 
men, it is said, were shamefully stripped and abused, 
after they were literally cut down, and were thrown 
into a hole together. 

In July, 1660, Margaret Brewster, from Barbadoes, 
and two or three other women, made an incursion 
into the Old South Church ; she appeared " in sack- 
cloth, with ashes on her head, barefoot and her face 



78 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

blackened," with some purpose of warning the people 
against the black pox, "if they put in practice a 
cruel law ao^ainst swearing^." 

It is said also " that Deborah Wilson went througrh 
the streets of Salem naked as she came into the 
world, for which she was well whipped." Thomas 
Newliouse went into a meeting-house in Boston, and 
smashed two empty bottles together, with a threat to 
the people ; and, no doubt, other provoking things 
were done. 

In March, 1G61, persecutions still prevailing, Wil- 
liam Leddra, who came from Barbadoes, was arrested, 
together with one William Brend ; and Drake says, 
" The cruelties perpetrated on these poor, misguided 
men are altogether of a character too horrid to be 
related." It is said that Leddra would not accept 
life on any terms, and was therefore hung on the 
14th of March ; and Capt. Johnson, who led him 
forth to the gallows, was afterwards taken " with a 
■distemper which deprived him of his reason and 
understanding as a man." 

These proceedings, outrageous as they certainly 
were, led to a movement in England by the Quakers 
and their friends, which resulted in an order from the 
King, Sept. 9, 1661, requiring that a stop should be 
put to all capital or corporal punishments. The fol- 
lowing are the words of this remarkable document : — 

" Charles R. 

" Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having been 
informed that several of our subjects amongst you, called 
Quakers, have been and are imprisoned hj you, whereof some 
have been executed, and others (as hath been represented unto 



PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 79 

us) are in danger to undergo the like: We have thought fit to 
signify our pleasure in that behalf for the future, and do hereby 
require, that if there be any of those people now amongst you, 
now already condemned to suffer death or other corporal punish- 
ment, or that are imprisoned, and obnoxious to the like con- 
demnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein, 
but that you forthwith send the said persons, whether con- 
demned or imprisoned, over into this Our Kingdom of England, 
together with the respective crimes or offenses laid to their 
charge, to the end such course may be taken with them here as 
shall be agreeable to our laws and their demerits; and for so 
doing these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and 
discharge. 

"Given at Our Court at Whitehall the ninth da* of Sept., 
1661, in the thirteenth year of Our Reign. 

" To Our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, Esquire, &c. 
" By his Majesty's Command, 

" William Morris." 

The bearer of this mandate from the King was one 
of the banished Quakers, formerly of Salem; and 
when he appeared at Gov. Endicott's house, on 
Peraberton Square, was admitted to the presence, 
and ordered to take his hat off; and on receiving the 
mandamus the Governor took his own hat off (which 
he probably put on to receive his callers). After 
reading the document, he went out and bade the two 
Friends to follow him, and proceeded to consult, as it 
appeared, with Lieut.-Gov. Willoughby (not Belling- 
ham, as some writers have it). His answer was, 
" We shall obey his majesty's command."' So far as 
hanging was forbidden, the command was obeyed. 
The formality of sending Comaiissioners to England 
to defend and justify the measures of the colony was 
adopted, but never amounted to any thing. 



-v.'^VVASgJ^ ,^ CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

The laws against the Quakers were afterwards 
revived to the extent of whipping, limited to 
" through three towns only;" and perhaps they did 
not clioose to regard this display as " capital or 
corporal punishment." 

In Maj^ 1664, Edward Wharton, of Salem, being 
in Boston, a Quaker meeting was held, when a Avar- 
rant was issued for his arrest: but the meetino^ beino* 
over, he was found at a friend's house ; was arrested ; 
the next day whipped, and sent to the constable at 
Lynn, to be whipped there, and then sent to Salem. 
In one instance, a girl, eleven years of age, allowing 
herself to be a Quaker, whether she knew what the 
word meant or not, was sent to prison, and after- 
wards brought before the great and dignified Court. 
The Court speak of "the malice of Satan and his 
instruments," and determine that as ''Satan is put 
to his shifts to make use of such a child, not being of 
the 3'ears of discretion, it is judged meet so far to 
slight her as a Quaker, as only to admonish and 
instruct her according to her capacit}^ and so dis- 
charge her." Hutchinson says, " It would have been 
horrible, if there had been any further severity." 

In 1665, additional laws were made, or orders 
passed, levying a fine of ten shillings for attending a 
Quaker meeting, and five pounds for speaking at one ; 
and, in the same year, the penalty of death was 
revived against all Quakers who should return to 
the colony after they had been banished. Some per- 
sons ventured to express their dissent with regard to 
some of these laws, and, probably owing to their 
respectability, escaped punishment ; but Nicholas 



PEESECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 81 

Upsall, who had shown compassion to some Quakers 
while in prison, in 1656-57, was fined and banished, 
and endured incredible hardships. Three years later, 
in 1660, he returned, and was again thrown into 
prison, and died in 1666. 

The laws against Quakers and heretics were pub- 
lished in Boston " with beat of drum through its 
streets." We presume they were read after the 
town-crier fashion of later days. 

In 1677, when the toleration of the Quakers was 
thought to be one of the sins which brought on the 
Indian war, as a punishment, the Court ordered, 
^'That every person found at a Quaker's meeting 
shall be apprehended ex officio, by the constable, and, 
by warrant from a magistrate or commissioner, shall 
be committed to the House of Correction, and there 
have the discipline of the house applied to them, and 
be kept to work, with bread and water, for three 
days, and then released, or else shall pay five pounds 
in money, as a fine to the country, for such offence, 
and all constables neglecting their duty, in not faith- 
fully executing this order, shall incur the penalty of 
five pounds, upon conviction, one third thereof to 
the informer." 

Upon this remarkable order, Hutchinson declares, 
" I know of nothing which can be urged as in any- 
wise tending to excuse the severity of this law, 
unless it be human infirmity," and, he adds, the prac- 
tices of other religious sects who are persuaded that 
the indulgence of any other "was a toleration of 
impiety " and brought down the judgments of heaven. 
This law cost the colony many friends. 



82 CURIOSITIES OF HISTOKY". 

Soon after this a j)arty was arrested and " whipped 
at the cart's tail up and down the town with twenty 
lashes." On the same day, fourteen Quakers were 
arrested at a meeting, and twelve of them whipped : 
the other two had their fines paid by their friends. 
At the next meeting, fourteen or fifteen more, includ- 
ing some strangers, were arrested and whipped. And 
yet the Quakers continued their meetings; and, 
finally, one of them was so large, that, as it is said, 
''fearlulness surprised the hypocrites," and the meet- 
ing was not molested.^ 

Hutchinson says, "Notwithstanding the great 
variety of sectaries in England, there had been no 
divisions of any consequence in the Massachusetts; 
but from 1637 to 1656, they enjoyed, in general, 
great quietness in their ecclesiastical affairs, discords 
in particular churches being healed and made up by 
a submission to the arbitrament of neighboring 
churches, and sometimes the interposition of the 
civil power." But soon after all this, commencing 
indeed in 1655, in New^ England, continues Hutch- 
inson, "it must be confessed, that bigotry and cruel 
zeal prevailed, and to that degree that no opinions 
but their own could be tolerated. They were sin- 
cere but mistaken in their principles ; and absurd as 
it is, it is too evident, they believed it to be for the 
glory of God to take away the lives of his creatures 
for maintaining tenets contrary to what they pro- 

1 In 1G93, an eminent Quaker visited Boston, and afterwards 
■wrote an account of his visit. He says, being a stranger and 
traveller, he could not but observe the barbarous and unchristian 
Avclcouie he liad into Boston. ** Oh, what a pity it was," said one, 
" that all your society were not hanged with the other four! " 



PEESECUTIOX OF THE QUAKERS. 83 

fessed themselves." It is said, however, " that every 
religion which is persecuted becomes itself persecut- 
ing ; for as soon as, by some accidental turn, it arises 
from perbccution, it attacks the religion which perse- 
cuted it." Perhaps the Puritans thought they had 
been persecuted ! 

It seems to be understood that the Quakers finally 
got a standing in Boston, and a meeting-house, as, in 
1667, mention is made of their " ordinary place of 
meeting," though their numbers were small. The 
Baptists, however, did not get their meeting-house 
until 1679; and then, as a law had been passed 
against the building of meeting-houses without per- 
mission of the county courts, theirs was built as a 
private house, and afterwards purchased by them. 
But Drake says, " The times had become so much 
changed that such a law could not be very well en- 
forced." By this time, also, the matter was again 
brought to the notice of the king, Charles II. ; and 
he wrote, on July 24, to the authorities of Boston, 
'' requiring them not to molest people in their wor- 
ship, who were of the Protestant faith, and directing 
that liberty of conscience should be extended to all 
such." This letter, it is said, had some effect on the 
rulers, although they regarded it as an interference 
with their chartered rights ; and, after all, it was 
rather a development of that common sense wliich 
fanaticism and bigotry had so long obscured, possi- 
bly awakened by the order of the king, rather than 
controlled by it, that brought about the change in 
the spirit of persecution. 

In 1737, a different Christian spirit was manifested 



84 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

towards the Quakers, and they were exempted from 
taxes for the support of the clergy, provided they 
attended their own meetings. A letter from a 
Quaker to the King gives the following statement 
of the punishments and penalties received by his 
brethren : " Twenty-two have been banished on pain 
of death, three have been martyred, three have had 
their right ears cut, one hath been burned in the 
hand with the letter H, thirty-one persons have 
received six hundred and fifty stripes, .... one 
thousand and forty-four pounds worth of goods 
have been taken from them, and one lieth now in 
fetters, condemned to die." The letter H was prob- 
ably intended for "heretic," which would certainly 
be giving a judgment against the religion the Quakers 
professed. 

In 1694, the Quakers owned a lot on Brattle 
Street, and it is thought probable had some sort of a 
meeting-house upon it; but still the years passed on, 
we hardly know how, until 1708, when they desired 
to build a brick house, but could not get permission 
to do so. Afterwards they built a small brick meet- 
ing-house in the rear of Congress Street on one side, 
and in the rear of Water Street on the other. It 
ran back to what is now the line of Excliange Place ; 
in fact, was nearly in the centre of the square formed 
by State, Congress, Water, and Devonshire Streets. 
This building was partly destroyed by fire in 1760, 
having been standing more than fifty years ; was 
then repaired, and finally demolished in 1825, having 
been unoccupied for nearly twenty years, the society, 
in 1808, having voted to discontinue their meetings. 



PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. 85 

It is probably true that the treatment of the 
Quakers in the Massachusetts Colony, in the years 
mentioned, from 1660 to 1666-67, is unparalleled in 
the history of the human race ; and although it may 
be true, as has been said, that the people here exiled 
themselves in order th.at ''they might maintain and 
perpetuate what they conceived to be the principles 
of true Christianity," they manifested but little of 
the spirit of the Saviour of mankind or the religion 
he came to teach. Hutchinson concludes what he 
has to say of the remarkable persecution of the 
Quakers and its severity, with the remark, " May 
the time never come again, when the government 
shall think that by killing men for their religion they 
do God good service." However other denomina- 
tions of Christians were persecuted by the Puritans, 
only Quakers and witches were hung. "These tran- 
sient persecutions," as Bancroft calls them, with all 
the leniency possible, "begun in self-defence, were 
yet no more than a train of mists hovering of an 
autumn morning over the channel of a fine river, that 
diffused freshness and fertility wherever it wound." 
Much of this condition of things, it must be ad- 
mitted, resulted from natural causes ; namely, the 
character and circumstances of the settlers, their pe- 
culiar religious belief, and absolute fanaticism. 

Finally, another writer says, " The Puritans dis- 
claimed the right to sit in judgment on the opinions 
of others. The}^ denied that they persecuted for 
conscience sake." These and some other statements 
seem to show that they did not practise as they 
preached, or gave an interpretation to that practice 



86 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

not in accordance with the understanding and con- 
victions of mankind. To be sure, they had a law to 
punish any one who spoke disrespectfully of the 
Scriptures, and at the same tuue fined, punished, 
banished, and hung those who entertained and pre- 
sumed to teach principles, belief, or doctrines in 
relation to the Scriptures different from their own ; 
not, as tliey allege, because they had the right to sit 
in judgment upon them, but because of the dangers 
of their teaching and practice : in other words, for 
their own protection, " self defence," as has been said. 
Nevertheless, maiming, marring, and taking the lives 
of God's creatures, the equals in every respect of them- 
selves, as Hutchinson puts it, is only to be apologized 
for or excused by the infirmities of humanity; in- 
deed, we should rather say, is not to be excused on any 
such ground, and their own doctrine and belief teaches 
that it was a proceeding to be punished and repented 
of. This, at any rate, was always the belief of the 
Quakers. Drake says, " The persecuted Quakers were 
fully persuaded that a day of wrath would overtake 
New England, and they did not fail to declare their 
belief ; and, indeed, it was not long before their pre- 
dictions were fulfilled : for the terrible war with the 
Indians, which followed in a few years, was viewed 
by them as the vengeance of heaven for their cruelty 
to the Quakers." 



VIII. 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. 



It is said that the first newspaper ever issued was 
at Venice in 1583, ^ called " The Gazette," — and this 
was in manuscript, — unless (as has been reported) 
there was an older paper of some kind issued at 
Hong-Kong. The oldest printed newspaper, " The 
English Mercury," was issued in England in 1588,^ 
but, it is believed, was not regularly published. In 
the next centurj^ from 1624 onward, newspapers 
multiplied; and among them were "The Parliament 
Kite," and "The Secret Owl," and some other curi- 
ous names. Towards the close of this century, the 
first American newspaper appeared ; and possibly this 
had been preceded by what represented a newspaper, 
in manuscript, as was the case afterwards in Boston 
in 1704, when " The News-Letter " first appeared. 
The first American newspaper was issued in Boston in 
1690, — only fifty or sixty years after newspapers be- 
came common in England, — if the statements which 
we have quoted are reliable. But at this time, as 
might be reasonably supposed, the people who came 
to this country in order to improve their liberties, 

1 Faust invented printing, 1450. 

2 Printing introduced into England, 1571. 

87 



88 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

were not prepared for a free press, or, one might 
almost say, for any thing that did not tally with 
their religious notions and vague superstitions ; so 
that, after the first issue, Sept. 25, 1690, the paper 
was suppressed, as said, by the ''legislative authori- 
ties." Still it was a newspaper, intended to be such, 
and intended to be regularly issued once a month, 
or oftener, if occasion required. 
It was entitled as follows : — 

*' Numb. 1. PuBLicK 

OCCURRENCES, 

Both Foreign and Domestic. 
Boston, Thursday, Sept. 25, 1690.'' 

It was "printed by R. Pierce, for Benjamin Harris, 
at the London Coffee House, 1690." And it would 
seem that most of the copies were destroyed, though 
probably not many were printed, as only one copy 
has ever been found, and that by some unknown 
chance got into the colonial state-paper office, in 
London. It is a small sheet of paper doubled, print- 
ed on three pages, two columns to each ; and some 
years ago, after a good deal of trouble to find the 
copy in the London office, the contents of the whole 
sheet were copied by Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Bos- 
ton, and have since been once or twice reprinted. 

It is said that it was stopped by the '^ legislative 
authorities," who described it as a '' jDamphlet," and 
as containing '' reflections of a very high nature ; " 
and the order of the Court, passed in 166*2 forbade 
"any thing in print without license first obtained 
from those appointed by the government to grant 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. 89 

the same : " so that it woukl seem that there was a 
law against printing any thing without a license, and 
that this sheet, called a pamphlet, came within its 
provisions. ''In 1644, It is ordered that the Printers 
shall have leave to print the Election Sermon with 
Mr. Mather's consent, and the Artiller3^'s with Mr. 
Norton's consent." This, of course, meant without 
their undergoing any inspection. 

With respect to the contents of this first news- 
paper, the introductory paragraph is as follows : — 

" It is desir/ned that the countrey shall he furnished once a month 
(or if any Glut o/" Occurrences happen oflener^^ ivith an Account of 
such considerable things as have arrived unto our Notice.''^ 

The editor, it is said, will take pains to get a faith- 
ful relation of things, and hopes observers will com- 
municate of such matters as fall uuder their notice; 
and then states wdiat is proposed in an editorial way : 
first, that memorable occurrences may not be neg- 
lected or forgotten ; second, that people may better 
understand public affairs ; and third, '' that something 
may he done toivards the Curing, or at least the Charm- 
ing of that Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us," 
&c. This, probably, is one of the passages referred 
to by the authorities as '' reflections of a very high 
nature." And, in addition to what has been said, 
''the Publisher of these Occurrences" proposes to 
correct false reports, and expose the " First Raiser " 
of them, and thinks ''•none will dislike this Proposal^ 
but such as intend to be guilty of so villainous a 
Crime. ^^ 

Then follows the news, or " Occurrences." Men- 



90 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

tion is made of a thanksgiving appointed by the 
Christian Indians of Plymouth; the husbandmen 
find no want of hands, "• which is k)oked upon as a 
merciful Providence," being a favorable season ; the 
Indians have stolen two children, aged nine and 
eleven j^ears, from Chelmsford ; an old man of 
Watertown hung himself in his cow-house, having 
lately lost his wife, and thereupon " the devil took 
advantage of the melancholy which he thereupon 
fell into." Epidemical fevers and agues and small- 
pox are next spoken of: of small-pox, three hundred 
and twenty had died in Boston, and " children were 
born full of the distemper." A large lire is spoken 
of near the Mill Creek, — twenty houses burned ; and 
on the 16th and 17th of this instant (September, 
1690), a fire broke out near the South Meeting-house, 
which consumed five or six houses; a young man 
perished in the flames, and one of the best printing- 
presses was lost. Report of a vessel bound to Vir- 
ginia, put into Penobscot, where the Indians and 
French butchered the master and most of the crew. 

The next is a longer article in relation to the ex- 
pedition to Canada under Gen. Winthrop, its failure, 
and a variety of Indian complications. The editor 
says, " 'Tis possible we have not so exactly related 
the Circumstances of this business, but the Account 
is as near exactness as any that could be had, in the 
midst of many various leports about it." 

Then follows an account of the massacre of a body 
of French Indians in the " East Country." Two 
English captives escaped at Passamaquoddy, and 
got into Portsmouth. There was terrible butchery 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. 91 

among the French, Indians, and English at this time. 
Following this is some news from Portsmouth by an 
ariival from Barbadoes ; a report that the city of 
Cork had proclaimed King William, and turned their 
Fiench landlords out of doors, &c. ; more Indian 
troubles at Plymoulh, Saco, &c., &c. Then follows 
the imprint at the end, as already quoted. 

Such was the nature, character, and contents of 
the first paper ever published in America; and we 
doubt if the first paper printed in England, more 
than a hundred years before, exceeded this in man- 
ner and matter. The judgment of the present day 
would be that it was a ver}^ good paper for the 
time, both in its news and editorial matter, and we 
fail to see any ground of offence either against law 
or religion. Many of the early papers published in 
this country, after the failure of this attempt, are 
not half as good as this first copy of '' Publick Occur- 
rences." It is creditable to Benjamin Harris, and its 
discontinuance not so creditable to the ''legislative 
authorities," who either made or perverted a law for 
its suppression. But the idea of establishing a news- 
paper ''that something may be done towards the 
Curing, or at least the Charming of that Spirit of 
Lying, which prevails among us," is very peculiar. 

In all newspaper nomenclature it is hardly possible 
to find a more appropriate name than that selected 
for this first newspa[)er of America. We now have 
Heralds, Couriers, and Messengei's ; Records, Chroni- 
cles, and Registers; then all sorts of party names; 
Banner, and Standard; Crayon, Scalpel, and Broad- 
axe ; Age, Epoch, Era, Crisis, Times ; and finally 



92 CURIOSITIEG OF HISTOKY. 

Sun, Star, Comet, Planet, Aurora, Galaxy, &c., but 
among these and thousands of other names, not one 
more truthful and expressive than that of " Publick 
Occurrences." 

THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTEE. 

The first Boston newspaper which gained a perma- 
nency, was published in 1704, and was continued for 
more than seventy years. It was equally fortunate 
in the selection of an appropriate and significant 
name, the "Boston News-Letter," and this was possi- 
bly suggested by the fact that it was preceded by the 
issue of a news-letter in manuscript which was as 
strictly, as the newspaper which followed it, a 
" News-Letter." Naturally enough too, considering 
the times, it was originated by the postmaster, who 
came in contact in his business, not only with the 
people' of Boston, but generally with those of the 
whole colony, as we think, there were then but few 
post-offices in the colony : the need of a News-Letter 
for everybody Avould, as we have intimated, natu- 
rally suggest itself to him, and be also, as in fact it 
was, an important aid to his business, though it is 
said he did not make much out of it, and soon after 
lost his position as postmaster. 

jXTcto lEncflanti. 
The BOSTON News-Letter. 
From Monday April 17, to Monday April 24, 1704. 
" Boston: Printed by B. Green, and sold by Nicholas Boone, 
at his shop near the old meeting-house." 



3S...e.. 




TPttmli. 






r. 



.. , ... From ^mHat Jtpril 17. to 



LKtc'^rs frdm ScotUn^hAngti^ ii* Copy of 
a Sfaetjt lately Priiseed th<a-«, ititkaied,' .^ 
■feufhuhle Alarm /«- Scodiajld. . . Ja^ JL.«.-2j-. 
r/jr Ctfttmy^ccmecifnifig the ^rtjhil Omger V 
*/>» KJTtgiopt m4 if the hcttflant llcligien. ' , 

Thi3 JLettcr takes Notice, Thzi Papijis fwarp ip 

that Nation, thqt they tj^ffick more artswedly than 

forfltjerl/, & that of late many Scores of Priefts aod 

Jefijitcs ar« come thitber frOm Franct, and gone to 

the Nordi, to the HiglxUnds & other placftj of the 

Country. That sbcMimfters (A the Hig&landi aa<J 

North k^VisM ktgejLHb of tjicw to tl^ Oqmmit- 

i«e.of iBfi.Q'PSir^' 4fej.yy, to be kid jbcfpj* ^8 

' Vrivy-Councii. ' . . 

-: felikew^ohftrves, that a 'grci.t Number 8f o- 

^CT- iii-si^ciajrd OfjfoDc arp come over firom ' iraiisg, 

^ lUiapT pr;t(3ite of accepting her Majefty's Grasisfos 

|baaqsnitj':W., in. reality, to iocreaCe Di"7i&>ns.in 

WCf^Jatfoj^'ajijl to .entqrtain a Ckarrefpo^ejaBi v/iih 

^>««« : Imt thci? ill Smcttfioas are evide&t from 

peir talidn'sji^ig, their ©wp.iug the' Inccreft of the 

^reteadcd Ithig J^.-w/ VIII. their fyxet Cabab, 

atjdEheir buynig up of Anas and Ammu^itioQ, 

. ^fitt«srcr tbc-/ can find thetE, . 

■ :.Ta tljiijie gdds the late Writings and Afisnjs 

bfTohic ii.'faficttea pertosir. jynw of.'Vfhbni *i«'foy 

X Pfttender, that fev^ral of tnem tone JledirM 

jrhad.rsthcr enjbrace Foppry than conform to 



)^5 Aprilj4: iVci'^. 
From ail this.be iafers, "f-hafi 



tocr tlus Winter, j. Bccaua^ fitl' ^ '^ 
^wn not ^ ^ at Sea to. opprtf mj/' 

th^nM^^riejMie^fftf^a,; w^' 
Sea batg p^er. 3_?rhe fiSStionllJ!!:" -^ 1 



couGdenbltf number to JQ^o them, ^t „ 
hiajno the iaKj«rt?limg wt^h ■ 




but ftnd' ovw.a fuffidlat SlmbTr'of a'^*. ' \ -'f- 
Arros aa^ Aoijauutjocs. ' ifi ; ^ 




fccKing, ana koyal Family ; and the charitable 
imd'senerow Pfinte who has (hev/'d themfo much 
jSiivifniH:. .He iikcwife takes notice of Ijetteia not 
^o4 ♦SO i<>wd in Cypher, and": directed to a 
|*«mBS„latcly cqcpc thither from St. Gerntaim. 

He lays that the grcateft Jacobites, Who will not 
-qual^: tkanfe'v^s by taking the OaUis to He^^4a- 
rjeft), do nciw-'vidi the PapJls aijd th^ir Compani- 
ixps from Stj Sejmaim Cu up for the _ Liberty of th^ 
,Subje£l, contrary to their own Principles^ but meer- 
ty to kecip up aDivifion in the Nation. He adds, 



anet-.t : ■iMhoas bi:twixtthf Nations, and to ojjfirudi 
a,R - '^io&s cornplain'a o£ - • ; 

': e fays, do all thev can to fet- 

Tv/i-- .-.*..- -n that, their pretended iJLJpg is a 
yrc^eftajit in i:>3 i-ieart, tho' he dares not ae<;lare it 
'while under tV>c power o^ Frawe ; that he is ac- 
^u.;.,.;.> ,.r,.i- >e Miftakcs ofhis Fathci:*s Go-. 
'vefi^ ern «s more accordlpg;o tjiw. 






. to his SubjcAs. 

rhe Strength of their. QFQ Panv, 
.\nd," Divifions of the other, m 
. and haften their .Itpdcrtaking ;' 
.vgu- ipT.Tifclvcs out of their Fclars, and into! h.ot_.„ 
gheft aiiuraftce of accompUQibgihcir purpofc. j on ou'gl 



p, HceiideavoufB i|i the ,wft of his Ln-r^^^ 
Aver t^fooiifii Pretences of the Pr«cnd.'-- ^^1 
^ttfc,apdtlmhewiU gover^u^a.col'^t. 
Law. He fayt, cHet being hxd ii» ir n, t- '"? 
Eton »nd PoDticks of Fr*„,., ]-,» h bf E Jxt "v 'H 



tht Obligar.ons which he and his Fm' ^. 
the Fjwf,^ King, muft neccffai-ay make 
wholly at his Devotion, and toTollowhi, 
tb«ifhc6tu|Wrttbe Thfoae, tbj thji 
aiuic be ohlifljdi to pay the Dcbciwhich h 
FrnwiKin^Tor dK Education df hla(< 
Eaimauiing his fuppofed Father 2ad ] 
And Cacc the King rauft reftow hira bt ' 
if ever he be reAyyed, he wlli m 
his own Debt befoft) thofi Ttoo^ lea 
T^e Pwterfder beijtj a,gt»d Proficient ii" 

" " liitly aycn, 



gUl5'c 

'^(i lis 



/fuffic 



jciitty 



'd, bot bj? the utttf K» 



Protcftant Subje^i, both asHer^icki «a>6 
The lare Queen, his ffrrtpode^i MiAf ^' 
ccld Blood wjjen (hi was Ji»wji of ^ril^ 
to turn the Weft of tcot'j^ into a hucii?. 
will be then for doing fo bf tb6 gfcaftoft^' sot • ; w' 
Nation'; and, no douue^ li at paiat ifll h». _ * ^ 
tended Soa cciucst£(i to kef awi MuuKi^ ^ ^' '■ <?< 
he fays, ft wf« ogre^t hdcinefi in t^• '". f ? 
take a mice bred up ia tha feMTid Sch* n ^ i 
titude, Perfecudoaand Cftielty^ and ' 
Rage and Eovy. The ^cctiifn, jb» fa, -^ 
ScotUrJ tad U.St. QeimahUf zv^'i^^ " 
their prefent Straits, 90d lcQtwr?R3 ' * <• ij; • 
iknces cannot b» Oiuch wcrffcsth^* iJ* *r 
prefent, ax«' the mofe inclinable jSj-ibr I ' " ^ - 
He adds, That the /^rfnfh King Wio w » -^ 4\. y 
be a'moic efiedhiai ^f^yfcff. hBmTelf t^ i 






Univcrfal Monarchy, W^*! ,0 W^^ '^^ 
fntereft.thanby fettifvg up thftFrctCndt ' -f 
Throne of Great B^/.'«>i» W vUi' 'a all}. * .^^ 
attempt it; and tho' he fhoiilS! be imj- -^r^- 
theDefitfn would mifcariy inthetiofir^."'.'* 
not but reap fome Adv^itpS^by irfll ^f" '"•■ , 
shi-cc- Nations. .' ~' 1 ,>•••.'>■ "^ 

FfBmall djis theAurhbf ^dndudci •. ;' • f 
Intereft of th? Natwa. tP F«»v j^c for S ■ »-•... iji; 
and fayi, that ai many have fllreadji ••'•• f V 
Alarm, %od are' furniibngth^^TCiP^ '■ ■ - « 
and Amrouoitipn, be hop«r Jthc Go^^r ^y j > 
only allow It, but i.ft^n..«V-".M ' Jf^ 
wghtallto app - ')-4»-.l v^ 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IX AMERICA. 98 

John Campbell, a Scotchman, bookseller and post- 
master, was the proprietor of the paper. It was 
printed on a half-sheet, pot paper, and was to be con- 
tinued weekl}^ " Published by authority."' Among 
the contents was an article from the '' London Flying 
Post," containing news from Scotland, '• concerning 
the present danger of the kingdom and the Protes- 
tant Religion," "Papists swarm the nation," &c. ; 
also extracts from the London papers, and four para- 
graphs of marine news. Advertisements inserted 
"at a reasonable rate from twopence to five shil- 
lings." On the same day that the paper was issued 
Jud^re Sewall notes in his diary that he went over to 
Cambridge, and gave Mr. Willard, president of the 
College, "the first ^'ew^s-Letter that was ever carried 
over the river." 

The second issue of the paper. No. 2, was on a 
whole sheet of pot paper, the last page blank. 

In the fifth number Boone's name was left out, 
and the paper was sold at the post-office. To No. 
192, the paper was printed on a half-sheet, excepting 
the second issue. 

Green printed the paper for Campbell, until Nov. 
3, 1707, after which it was printed by John Allen, in 
Pudding Lane, near the post-office, and there to be 
sold ; and Allen printed it four years to No. 390. 
On the day that number was published, Oct. 2, 1711, 
the post-office and printing-ofiice were burnt ; and 
the following week it was again printed by Green, 
in Newbury Street, and he continued to print it until 
October, 1715. In 1719, Mr. Campbell tried the ex- 
periment of piinting a whole sheet, instead of a half 



94 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

sheet, every other week, but this did not pay very 
well ; and in addition to this difficulty, he lost the 
office of postmaster in December of that 3'ear. 
The new postmaster also printed a paper (Gazette) 
and this led to the first newspaper war in the coun- 
try, but which did not last long, and terminated 
without much damage. 

In 1721, Campbell got a new idea and printed 
some copies of the '-News-Letter" on a sheet of 
writing paper, leaving one page blank, so that his 
subscribers could write their letters on that, and send 
the paper abroad without extra postage. In the 
next year, after he had published the paper eighteen 
years, he sold to his printer, Bartholomew Green. 
"Published by authority" had been omitted by 
Campbell for two years, and in 1725 Green restored 
it. In December, 1726, the title was changed to 
'' The Weekly News-Letter," and subsequently, in 
1730, to " The Boston Weekly News-Letter," and 
the numbcrings of the previous issues were added 
together, and the total reached 1,396, in October, 
1730. No other alteration took place until the death 
of Green, when in Jan. 4, 1733, John Draper, his son- 
in-law, succeeded him. Draper printed the " News- 
Letter " for thirty years, and died November, 1762. 
His son, Richard Draper, continued the paper and 
enlarged the title to " The Boston Weekly News-Let- 
ter and New England Chronicle." In about a year 
the title was again altered to '' The Massachusetts 
Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter," and was 
decorated with the King's Arms. Richard took a 
kinsman as partner, and the paper now bore this im- 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. 95 

print: "Published by Richard Draper, Printer to 
the Governor and Council,, and by Samuel Draper, 
at the printing-office, in Newbury Street." Richard 
Draper continued the paper, and in May, 1768, a sin- 
gular arrangement took place between the " Massa- 
chusetts Gazette" (or News-Letter) and the "Boston 
Post Boy and Advertiser," and both papers were 
" Published by authority," in other words as govern- 
ment papers. Each paper was one-half "The Massa- 
chusetts Gazette, published by authority," and the 
other half bore its own proper name; and Draper 
called it the " Adam and Eve paper." This plan 
continued until September, 1769, and then its title 
" The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly 
News-Letter," was resumed. In May, 1774, Draper 
took a partner, and the next month he died, and his 
widow, Margaret Draper, continued the paper in the 
interest of the loj^alists or tories, until the evacuation 
of Boston, and then it ceased. She went to Halifax 
and then to England, and there obtained a pen- 
sion. The "News-Letter" was published seventy-two 
years. It is a curious fact that the first newspaper 
established in Boston should have got into the hands 
of the tories, and in the last year of its existence, in 
the trying times of the revolutionary war, should 
have been conducted by a Avoman. 



" The New England Chronicle, or The Evening 
Gazette," published at Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1775, 
speaks of " Mrs. Draper's Paper," in the following 
paragraph : — 



96 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

" The miserable Tools of Tyranny in Boston appear now to 
be somewhat conscious of their infamy in Burning Charles- 
town, and are, with the assistance of the Father of Liars, de- 
vising Methods for clearing up their characters. One of them, 
in Mrs. Draper's paper, asserts that the Provincials, on the 17th 
of June, after firing out of Houses upon the King's troops, set 
the Buildings on Fire. This doubtless, is as true as that the 
Pj-ovincials fired first upon the King's Troops at Lexington. 
Both of them are equally false, and well known to be as pal- 
pable Lies as ever were uttered. The propagation of them are, 
however, perfectly consistent with the Perfidy, Cowardice, and 
Barbarity of Gage and his detestable understrappers." 

Some other paragraphs are copied from " Mrs. 
Draper's hast Boston Paper,"' of which the following 
is one : — 

" We hear a certain Person of Weight among the Rebels 
hath offered to return to his Allegiance on Condition of being 
pardoned and provided for : What encouragement he has re- 
ceived remains a secret." 



John L. DeWolf, Esq., of Boston, has complete 
files of " The Boston Weekly News-Letter," for the 
years 1744 and; 1745 ; and we are indebted to him 
for the use of them. The following are specimens of 
some of the advertisements of the time : — 

" To be sold, a likely Negro boy about 12 years old : enquire 
of the printer." 

" To be sold by the Province Treasurer : Good Winter Rye, 
which may be seen at the Granary, on the Common" [Park 

street]. 

" A fine negro male child to be given away." [There are 
numerous advertisements of slaves and negroes.] 



FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. 97 

" To be sold, a Good Dwelling-House, situate near the Green 
Dragon, in the Main street, with a lai-ge tract of Land for a 
Garden, a good Well in the Cellar and other conveniences. En- 
quire of Daniel Johonnot, Distiller." 

Elizabeth Macneal advertises " a likely young 
negro girl ; " ^' also some Household goods to be 
sold." 

Josiah Jones advertises his man servant, 19 years 
of age as a runaway, ''having on an old ragged Coat, 
a good Checked Shirt and Trowsers, a Pair of Black 
Callamanco Breeches, a pair of Gray Yarn Stockings, 
and a new Pair of Shoes." 

" The Gentleman who borrowed a Blue Great Coat at the 
White Swan, about three weeks past, is desir'd to return the 
same forthwith : the Person whom he borrow'd it of, thinking 
he has had it long enough." 

"This is to inform the Publick, That the Cold-Bath in the 
Bath-Garden, at the West End of Boston is in Beautiful Order 
for use. It is a living Spring of Water, which the coldest 
Season in Winter never affects or freezes," &c. 

" This is to inform the Publick that Edmond Lewis of Bos- 
ton, watch-maker, never bought a Watch of, nor ever sold one 
to any Slave whatever ; and the malicious Report of his having 
dealt with some negroes is scandalously false." 

" Choice Carolina Pork and Beef, to be sold at the Ware- 
house on the South side of the Town Dock, adjoining the Ira- 
post office." 

' ' A negro woman to be sold by the Printer of this paper ; 
the very best negro woman in town ; who has had the small-pox 
and measles; is as hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and will 
work like a Beaver." 



IX. 



CURIOUS BOSTON LECTUEES. 



BOSTONIAN EBENEZER. 

There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very- 
small thin volume of 82 pages, 3x5 inches, entitled 
*' The Bostonian Ebenezer." " Some Historical Re- 
marks on the State of BOSTON, the Chief Town of 
New England and of the English AMERICA, with 
some agreeable methods for Preserving and Promoting, 
the Good State of THAT, as well as any other Town^ 
in the like circumstances." " Humbly offered by a 
native of Boston." Ezk. 48, 85, '^ The Name of the 
City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS 
THERE." Boston : printed by B. Green and F. 
Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, 1698. 

This singular little volume contains two lectures. 
Preceding the first lecture at the top of the page are 
these lines : — 

*'THE HISTORY OF BOSTON", 

Related and Improved. 
At Boston Lecture Id. 2m. 1698." [April 7, 1698.] 

The remainder of the page is occupied with this 
preface : — 

98 



CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES. 99 

^^"T~^ EM ARK ABLE and memorable, was the Time, when 
1^ an Arm?/ of Terrible Destroyers was coming against 
one of the Chief Towns in the Land of Israel. 
God Rescued the Town from the Irresistible Fury and Approach 
of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon 
them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the Town, and of 
the whole Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there 
follow'd that Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this 
Day, to be, with some Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, 
O, BOSTON, Thou helped of the Lord.'' 

At the head of the next page we have the text, — 

I SAM. VIL 12. 
" Then SAMUEL took a Stone and Set it up, . . . and called 
the Name of it EBENEZER, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath 
Helped us." 

Then follows the exordium, in which the preacher 
says the Thankful Servants of God have used some- 
times to erect monuments of stone as durable tokens 
of their thankfulness : — 

"Jacob did so; Joshua did so; and Samuel did so." " The 
Stone erected by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as 
much as to say, A Stone of Help. I know not whether any thing 
might be Writt upon it; but I am sure, there is one thing to be 
now Read upon it, by ourselves, in the Text where we find it : 
Namely, this much, 

' ' That a People ichom the God ofllearen hath BemarTcahly Helped, 
in their Distresses ought Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, irhat 
Ijrip of Heaven they have Received . 

" Now, 'tis not my Design to lay the Scene of my Discourse, as 
far off as Bethcar, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. 
I am immediately to Transfer it into the heart of Boston, a 
place where the Remarkable Help Received from Heaven, by the 
People, does loudly call for an Ebenezer. And I do not ask you. 



100 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

to change the Name of the Town, into that of P|rlp Stone, as 
there is a Town in England of that Name, which may seem 
the English of lEbcnQcr; but my Sermon shall be this Day 
your Ebe7iezer, if you will with a Favorable and Profitable 
Attention Entertain it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, accept 
me, and assist me now to Glor'ifii Him, in the Town, wh^re I 
drew my First Sinful Breath. A Town, whereto I am under 
Great Obligations, for the Pi-ecious Opportunities to Glonffi 
Him, which I have quietly enjoy'd therein, for NEAR EIGH- 
TEEN years together. my Lord God, Remember me, I pratj 
thee, and strencjllien me this once, to speak from thee, unto thy 
People. 

" And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among 
you, there are these Things to be inculcated." 

" 1. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, ac- 
knowledge what Help we have received from the God of Heaven, 
in the years that have rolled over us. While the Blessed 
Apostle Paul, was as it should seem, yet short of being Three- 
score years old, how affectionately did he set an Ehenezcr ysMh 
the Acknowledgment in Acts 26, 22. Having obtained Help of 
God, I continue to this day. Our Town is now Threescore and 
Eight years old : and certainly 'tis Time for us, with all possible 
affection to set up our Ebenezer,iiiiy\i\g, Having obtained Help 
from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of Man 
is passed over it. The Town hath indeed Three Elder Sisters 
in this Colony ; but it hath wonderfully outgrown them all ; 
and her Mother, old Boston, in England also ; Yea, within a 
Few Years, after the first settlement it grew to be, the Metrop- 
olis of the tohole English America. Little was this expected, by 
them that first settled the town, when, for a while, Boston was 
proverbially called Lost Town, for the mean and sad circum- 
stances of it. But, O Boston, it is because thou hast Obtained 
help from God.^^ " There have been several years wherein the 
Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the Town in the Face. 
We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in the 
Barrel ! But the fear'd Famine has always been kept off." 

The preacher proceeds, — 



CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES. 101 

" A formidable French squadron hath not shot one Bomb 
into the midst of Thee;" our Streets have not run Blood and 
Gore; devouring flames have not raged. "Boston, 'Tis a mar- 
vellous Thing, a Plague has not laid desolate!" "Boston, 
Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a Town upon 
Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for." 

Secondly, we are to acknowledge whose help it is. "This 
is the voice of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy 
God hath helped thee!" "Old Boston, by name, was but 
Saint Dotolphs Town. Whereas Thou, O Boston, shall have but 
one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord Jesus Christ." 

The preacher's third division is that the help Bos- 
ton has ah-eady had shoukl lead her people to Hope. 
" Hope in him for more help hereafter." " The 
motto upon all our Ebenezer's is Hope in God ! 
Hope in God ! " In the course of this part of his 
lectuie, the preacher says, — 

" The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and 
a multitude of them are very helpless creatures. I am aston- 
ished how they live! In that church, whereof I am the servant, 
I have counted. The Widows make about a sixth part of our 
communicants, and no doubt in the whole town, the proportion 
differs not very much. Now, stand still my Friends, and 
behold the will of God! Were any of these ever starved yet? 
No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for." 

P^ourthly, "Let all that bear public office in the town con- 
tribute all the help they can that may continue the help of 
God in us! " First the ministers will help, and then he calls 
upon the Justices of the Courts, the constables, the school-mas- 
ters and the townsmen to help: "Each of the sorts by them- 
selves, may they come together to consider, W^hat shall we do 
to save the town ? " 

Fifthly, " God help the town to manifest all that pl'ctp which 
a town so helped of Him, is obliged unto!" And then the 
town is warned against all sorts of iniquities: against fortune- 
tellers, bad houses, drinking houses, &c. 



102 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

"Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get 
Footing- in thee ! " 

"And, Oh! that the Drinking Houses in the Town, might 
once come under a laudable Regulation. The Town has an 
Enormous Number of them ! Will the Haunters of those Houses 
hear the Counsels of Heaven? For you that are the Town 
Dwellers, to be oft, or long, in your Visits of the Ordinary, 
'twill certainly Expose you to Mischiefs more than ordinary. I 
have seen certain Taverns where the Pictures of horrible De- 
vourers^ were hang'd out for the signs; and thought I, 'twere 
well if such Signs were not sometimes too Signijicant ! Alas, 
men have their estates Devoured, their names Devoured, their 
Hours Devoured, and their very soul Devoured, when they are so 
besotted, that they are not in their Element, except they be in 
Tippling at Such Houses. When once a man is Bewitched with 
the Ordinary, what usually becomes of himV He is a gone 
man. And when he comes to Dy, he'l cry out, as many have 
done. Ale Houses are Hell Houses ! Ale Houses are Hell Houses! 
Ale Houses are Hell Houses! " . . . " There was an Inn at Bethle- 
hem, where the Lord Jesus Christ was to be met withal. Can 
Boston boast of many such? Alas, Too ordinarily it may be 
said. There is no Room for Him in the Inn! My Fiiends, Let 
me beg it of you: Banish the unfruitful icorks of Darkness, from 
your Houses, and then the Sun of Righteousness will shine upon 
them. Don't countenance Drunkenness, Revelling and Mispend- 
ing of precious Time in your Houses. Let none have the 
snares of Death Laid for them in your Houses.' ' 

The preacher goes on in two or three further divis- 
ions with his declamation against evil and sins, and 
his conjurations for better things, in faith, hopes and 
works, intimating all the evils that exist in Boston, 
and warning the people of the danger of them. 

The second sermon is a piece of similar declama- 
tion, about what the preacher calls Household Reli- 



1 The " Lion Tavern," or possibly the " Green Dragon." 



CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES. 103 

gion, "at Boston Lecture, 26d. 7ni. 1G95." A sliort 
extract will give a sample of this discourse. 

"First, I suppose, we are all sensible, That for us to Loose 
our Houses by any Disaster whatsoever, would be a very terrible 
Calamity : Oh! it would be a Judgment of God, wherein the 
Anger of God, would be seen wiitten with ^enj characters. If 
by an accident, or by an enemy, our House be laid in desola- 
tion, every Roar of the Raging Flames, every crack of the 
J umbling Timbers, every Downfall of the Undermined walls, 
and every jingle of the Bells then tolling the Funeral of those 
Houses, would loudly utter the voice in Deut., A Fire is Kindled 
in (he Anger of God.^' 

This discourse is very severe upon all " Houses 
where God is not served," and defines them as gam- 
ing-houses, drinkingdiouses, houses where troops and 
harlots assemble. " If the Worshipful Justices, 
and the Conslables, and the Tythingmen, would In- 
vigorate their zeal, to Hout the Villanous Haunts of 
those Houses, the whole Town would be vastly tlie 
Safer for it." 

All that can be said of these curious discourses is 
that they are a strange medley of declamation, fanati- 
cism, and exhortation, not lacking in thought perhaps, 
or devoid of sense, but rather insinuating than direct 
and sensible. The author does not print his name, 
though they purport to be Boston Lectures, one 
delivered in 1695 and the other in 1698 : it is under- 
stood, however, that they were by the Rev. Cotton 
Mather. 



X. 
KEMAKKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. 



FAST DAY. 



The first proclamation, issued on a broadside, that 
we have seen, is that of Marcli, 1743, ''for a public 
fast." It is issued by Gov. Shirle}^ and begins, " It 
being our constant and indispensable duty by prayer 
and supplication with thanksgiving to make known 
our requests to God," &c. lie then appoints the 12th 
of April ensuing to be observed as a day of general 
fasting and prayer. After acknowledging " all our 
heinous and aggravated offences," the people are re- 
quired to implore the Divine mercy for " the following 
blessings, namel}^" the life and health of " Our Sover- 
eign Lord the King ; " the prosperity of his govern- 
ment ; that he would direct and grant success to his 
Majesty's arms in the present war, and prevent a 
further rupture among the nations; in behalf of the 
Prince and Princess of Wales ; and that " it would 
please God to cover and defend the English planta 
tions, more especially this Province," &c. Given at 
the Council Chamber, signed, &c., and ending " God 
save the King." 

104 



EEMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. 105 



Tlie next proclaniation which we have is not prob- 
ably much known, and not such as were issued by 
the governors of the Provinces or States, but is a 
'' Dechiration of Avar against the French King." It 
purports to be issued originally from ^' Our Court at 
St. James's, the twenty-ninth day of March, 1744, in 
the 17th year of our reign." " God save the King." 
" Printed in London by Thomas Baskett and Robert 
Baskett, printers to the King's most excellent Majes- 
ty, 1744." '' Boston, N. E. reprinted by John Draper, 
Printer to His Excellency the Governor and Coun- 
cil, 1774." 

The proclamation rehearses the troubles which 
have taken place among the European states, " with 
a view to overturn the balance of power in Europe, 
... in direct violation of the solem.n guaranty of 
the Pragmatick Sanction given by him [the French 
King] in 1738, in consideration of the cession of Lor- 
I'ain." It refers to other offensive conduct of the 
French King, and then replies to some assertions made 
in the " P'rench King's declaration of war." "Being 
therefore indispensably obliged to take up arms," the 
King calls upon all his subjects to assist in prosecut- 
ing the same by sea and land; but no special refer- 
ence is made to the British colonies in America, and 
the governor (Shirley) does not even add his name 
to tlie proclamation. One copy of the remarkable 
document, at least, has been preserved, and is in pos 
session of Mr. John L. DeWolf of Boston. It is 
headed by an engraving of the King's arms, as are 



106 ^ CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

all the proclamations issued by the governor, includ- 
ing those for Fast and Thanksgiving Days, &c. It is 
not probable, though we do not know the fact, that a 
declaration of war by the King of England was ever 
re-issued by the governor of any other colony. Pre- 
viously to this, in this colony, in 1672, the procla- 
mation of war, by the King of England against the 
Dutch, was publicly read in Boston. 

FAST DAY. 

Following this on the 8th of June, 1744, was issued 
the " proclamation for a public fast." " Whereas it 
hath pleased God, in his holy, wise and sovereign 
Providence, further to involve the British dominions 
in war, whereby this Province will be greatly af- 
fected," &c. Therefore the 28th day of June is 
a];)pointed to be observed as a day of fasting and 
prayer, &c., '^and all servile labor and recreations 
are forbidden on that day." Signed, W. Shirley. 
[Troops were raised in Boston at this time, following 
the declaration of 29th March, and sent to Annapo- 
lis, Nova Scotia, where they arrived, as Gordon says, 
in season, and " were the probable means of saving 
the country."] 

RIOT IN BRISTOL COUNTY. 

Among the lesser proclamations, issued by Gov. 
Shirley, was one on account of "an heinous riot in 
the Town of Bristol, in open defiance of His Majes- 
ty's authority and Government within this Province." 
This was a case where the six persons named and '^a 
great number of others," marched to the county jail, 



REMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. 107 

and there demanded the release of John Round, jr., 
and by force of arms broke open said prison, " rescu- 
ing and carrying off the said John Round and 
Samuel Borden, another prisoner in said gaol." The 
governor calls upon all officers and people to appre- 
hend and secure the parties, and " for the encourage- 
ment of all persons whatsoever that shall discover 
the parties," a reward of one hundred pounds is 
offered for several of them, and fifty pounds each for 
others. Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, 
18th day of October, 1744. Signed, &c. 

WAR AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

Another remarkable proclamation was issued by 
" His Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., Captain- 
General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His Maj- 
esty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New Eng- 
land." This is a " declaration of war against the 
Cape Sable's and St. John's Indians." It is stated 
that whereas some of the Cape Sable Indians, who 
have formally by treaty submitted to his Majesty's 
government, have, " in the port of Jedoure, in a 
treacherous and cruel manner, murdered divers of 
His Majesty's English subjects, belonging to a fishing 
vessel ; and, Avhereas, the Cape Sable Indians with 
the St. John's tribe, have in a hostile manner joined 
with the French King's subjects in assaulting His 
Majesty's fort at Annapolis-Royal, &c., therefore, 
said Indians are declared to be rebels, traitors, and 
enemies, and His Majesty's officers and subjects are 
to execute all acts of hostility against the said In- 
dians," (fee. This proclamation is dated at Boston, 
Oct. 19, 1744. 



108 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 



THANKSGIVING. 

On the next day, 20th October, 1744, there was 
issued the usual proclamation for thanksgiving : 
" P^rasmuch as, amidst the many rebukes of Divine 
Providence with which we are righteously afflicted, 
more especially in the present expensive and calami- 
tous war, it has pleased God to favor us with many 
great and undeserved mercies in the course of this 
year," particularly in preserving the life and health 
of the King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, &c. ; 
in the restraint hitherto given to the Indians near 
the frontiers of this Province, &c. : therefore, the 
twenty-second day of December is to be observed as 
a day of thanksgiving throughout the Province. It 
will be noticed that nothing is said concerning the 
season or the crops in any of these thanksgiving 
proclamations, and it would seem that that matter 
was not thought of any account as compared with 
the health of his Majesty the King and the royal 
princesses. 

[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 
19th, and 20th October, 1744, the first in relation to 
a " heinous riot," the second a blood}^ declaration of 
war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.] 

BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, 
on the 2d of November, 1744, came forth another 
proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody 
character, against the Indians, as follows : — 



HEMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. 



109 




By His Excellency 
WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.; 
Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief , in and over His Maj- 
esty's Province of the Massachusetts- Bay in Ne\v-Englaxi>. 

A PROCLAMATION 

For the Encouragement of Voluntiers to prosecute the War 
against the St. John's and Cape Sable's Indians. 

TTTHEREAS the Indians of the Cape-Sable's and St. Joh7i's 
' ' Tribes have by their Violation of their solemn Treaties 
with His INIajesty's Governours, and their open Hostilities com- 
mitted against His Majesty's Subjects of this Province and the 
Province of Nova-Scotia, obliged me, with the unanimous Ad- 
vice of His Majesty's Council, to declare war against them; In 
Consequence of which the General Assembly of this Province 
have ^^ Voted, That there be granted, to be paid out of the 
publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, 
of His Majesty's Subjects, belonging to and residing within 
this Province, who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper 
Cost and Charge, go out and kill a male Indian of the Age of 
Twelve Years or upwards, of the Tribe of St. Johns or Cape- 
Sables, after the Twenty-sixth Day of October last past, and be- 
fore the last Day of June Anno Domini, One Thousand seven 
Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that Term as the 
War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a Line, to 
be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty's Council of this 
Province, somewhere to the Eastward of Penobscot, and pro- 
duce his Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of one Hun- 



110 cur.TosiTiES or history. 

dred Pounds in Bills of Credit of this Province of the new 
I'enor, and the Sum of one Hundred ^ Five Pounds in said 
Bills for any JNIale of the like Age who shall be taken Captive, 
and delivered to the Order of the Captain-General, to be at the 
Disposal and for the Use of the Government ; and the Sum of 
Fifty Pound.'i, in said Bills, for women ; and the like Sum for 
Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in Fight; and 
Fifty-Jive Pounds for such of them as shall be taken Prisoners, 
together with the Plunder: Provided no Payment be made as 
aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, 
until Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour 
and Council; " 

AND whereas^ since the passing of the said Vote of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty's Coun- 
cil determined, That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward 
of which the said Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, 
shall begin on the Sea-Shore at Three Leagues Distance from 
Eastermost Part of the Mouth of Passamaquoddy River, and 
from thence to run North into the Country thro' the Province 
of Nova-Scotia, to the River of St. Lawrence ; 

jj i)abc tf)crcfare tf}ougl}t fit, iritfj tfje *3ltibi'c0 of p?ts fHajcsty's 
'^^ Council, to issue tljis proclamation for gibing public i^ottcc of 
tJje Encouragement grantclJ bg tf}c (Scncral Court to all persons 
b3f}o mag be tiisposcli to serbc ttjctr Btng anti Countrg in t\)t prose- 
cution of tf}e Miax against tf}e saiU Cape-Sable's anU St. John's 
(ITribcs, in tljc manner abobe=mentinneti, upon tljeir obn efjarge; as 
also to gibe 4^ottcc to tlje seberal ^Tribes of tbe Eastern UntJians, bifjo 
are still in ^Smitg toitlj us, of x\)t Bounliarg^Eine aforesaiti; assur* 
tng tljem ttjat tl)is ©obernmrnt t^be tietermtncH to treat as Enemies 
all sue!) Entiians as Itbc begonti tijc saiti lline. 

Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, on Friday the 
Second Day of November, 1744. In the Eighteenth 
Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE llie 
Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great-Britain, France 
and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. 

W. SHIRLEY. 
By order of the Governour, with 
the Advice of the Council, 

J. WiLLARD, Seer. 

GOD save the KING. 



EEMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. Ill 

No mention is made of eitlier of these remarkable 
proclamations in any history of Boston, or other work 
that we have seen; and it can scarcely be generally 
known that INIassachnsetts indorsed the proclamation 
of the King of England, declaring war agai;ist "the 
French King," or that the colony, without regard to 
the King and his government, declared war, includ- 
ing the most desperate and bloody conditions, against 
the St. John's and Cape Sable's Indians, a hundred 
years after the settlement of the colony, and some- 
thing more than one hundred and fifty years ago. 
It will be noticed that the sum of five pounds ad- 
ditional is offered in each case for man, woman, or 
child, if brought in alive ; but considering the ex- 
pense, danger, and trouble of doing so, it could hardly 
have been expected that any thing beyond the scalps 
of the victims, even of children, would be brought 
in ; and it would seem, if any considerable number 
were killed or brought in, that the debt incurred 
would be likely to become somewhat burdensome 
upon the colony. The terms of the proclamation 
were based upon the votes and orders of the General 
Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards 
offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The 
records of Boston show that in 175G, January, X50 
were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be hoped 
this was the only payment ever made for such a pur- 
chase. 

FAST DAY. 

This threatening proclamation was followed by an- 
other, on the 18th February, for a general fast, as at 



112 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

this time the expedition to Louisbourg, which soon 
followed, was in preparation : — 

''Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his 
holy and sovereign Providence, to involve His Maj- 
esty's Dominions in War, which, notwithstanding the 
many instances of success, which, through Divine fa- 
vor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his 
allies, ought to be regarded as an effect of the anger 
of God against us; and, whereas, this government 
have, upon mature consideration, determined by the 
Divine permission, to prosecute an expedition against 
His Majesty's enemies, upon the success of which, the 
prosperity of His Majesty's subjects in North America, 
and more especially in this Province, does under 
God, much depend," &c., &c., therefore the 28th day 
of February instant, is appointed for a general fast, 
to be observed with fervent prayers and supplica- 
tions, and all labor and recreation are strictly for- 
bidden. '' Given at the Province House, in Boston, 
the 18th day of February, 1744." 

[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at 
Canso, under Col. Pepperell, on the 4th of April, 
having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The fort and 
city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up 
on the 17th of June; and two East India ships and 
one South Sea ship, worth X 600,000, were captured 
at the mouth of the harbor.] 

ANOTHER FAST. 

On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues 
another proclamation for a general fast, on Thursday, 
4th day of April. The expedition for Cape Breton 



REMARKABLE PROCLAMATIOXS. 113 

had just embarked and "taken their departure from 
this phice," and this was deemed, in addition to the 
usual custom, occasion for a fast. The favor of Di- 
vine Providence was implored for the success of the 
expedition which the government had, at "great ex- 
pense and labor, raised and fitted out with a large 
body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an 
expedition against the French at Cape Breton," &c. 

THANKSGIVING REJOICING. 

News of the success of the expedition was received 
in Boston, on the 2d of July, 1745, and there were 
great rejoicings and illuminations in the town in con- 
sequence ; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his 
proclamation for a general thanksgiving, it having 
pleased God, as he elaborately expressed it, " by 
a wonderful series of successes to bring this great 
affair to a happy issue in the reduction of the city 
and fortress of Louisbourg." There was added, " All 
servile labor is forbidden on said day," and the bar 
against recreations is omitted ; but all persons are 
called upon to preserve order. 

GOV. PHIPS'S PROCLAMATIONS. 

In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his 
lady were absent on a visit to Louisbourg, the scene 
of the late success of his expedition, Spencer Phips, 
acting governor, issued three proclamations in the 
following three months : on the 6th of Septembei', 
for a public fast, partly on account of the war with 
the Indians, and among other things "that His Ex- 
cellency the Governor may be directed and sue- 



114 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

ceeded in the important affairs lie is transacting 
at Louisbourg and returned in safety." Signed S. 
Pliips. By order of the honorable the Lieut.-Gover- 
nor, with the advice of the Council. J. Willard, 
Secretary. 

The second was issued on tlie twenty-second day 
of November, 1745, on account of some disorders in 
Boston, committed by divers officers and seamen, be- 
longing to His Majesty's ship " Wager," and other 
seamen belonging to the sloop " Resolution," late in 
His Majesty's service, by which two persons lost their 
lives. The constables and authorities of Boston and 
Cliarlestown are called upon to search for them in 
any justly suspected houses, &c. By order of the 
Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of 
the Council. 

The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips 
was issued on the 25th of November, 1745, for a gen- 
eral thanksgiving, in " consideration of the manifold 
and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards 
our nation and land in the course of the past 3'ear, 
which (though mixed with various rebukes of Provi- 
dence manifesting the righteous discipline of God 
toward us for our sins) demand our publick and 
thankful acknowledgments." Signed, S. Phips. 
By His Honor's command, with the advice of the 
Council. 

Besides the above there were two or three other 
proclamations, calling for troops and other objects. 
The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, so 
far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and 
the first in the Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, 
soon after Winthrop's arrival. 



XI. 



POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. 



AN EARTHQUAKE IN BOSTON. 

On the Lord's clay, June 3, 1744, between ten and 
eleven o'clock, there was experienced at Boston, a 
violent earthquake, " which was felt for above an 
hundred of miles." The matter, naturally somewhat 
startling and impressive, called forth from some un- 
known author, an elaborate poem, the purpose and 
spirit of which will be readily understood by a few 
extracts. It is printed on a sheet, about 12 by 20 
inches, in three columns, and was " sold by Benjamin 
Gray, in Milk Street, 1744." The first portion and 
some other parts of the poem are missing from the 
copy we have. Somewhere near the middle of the 
first column our quotations commence : — 

" Again the Lord did shake the Earth, 
While Christ was in the Tomb, 
When from the glorious Heavenly' World 

A glorious Angel came. 
Behold there was at that same Time 
An Earthquake strong and great. 
Which made the Watchmen at the Tomb 
To tremble, shake and quake. 

115 



116 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

Again when Paul and Silas was 

Once into Prison cast, 
And cruell}' the Keeper had 

In stocks made their feet fast, 
Like the dear Children of the Lord, 

The}- to their Father sing, 
The}" praises sing unto the Lord 

Till all the Prison did ring. 
When lo ! immediately there w^as 

A terrible Earthquake, 
Which made the whole foundation of 

The Prison-Housc to shake. 
The Doors fly open by its Power 

And now wide open stand, 
'Till these dear Prisoners of the Lord 

Are loosed from their Bands. 
And thus we see in ver}' Truth, 

This wondrous Work is done, 
B3' none but the eternal God, 

And Israel's hoi}' One. 
And that they're tokens of his Wrath, 

O, let not one gain-say. 
For sure the Lord is much provok'd, 

When' he speaks in this w ay. 
Be then excited, O, dear Friends 

With vigorous accord, 
And all the might and strength you have, 

To turn unto the Lord. 
For lo ! on the last Sabbath day. 

The Lord did plainly shew. 
What in a single moment's time 

He might have done with you. 
A solemn warning let it be, 

To all with one accord 



POPULAR PUEITAN LITERATURE. 117 

For their Souls precious Life to haste 
Their turning unto God. 

*' Perhaps 3-ou'll think the Danger's past 

That all is safe and sure 
Because the mighty God hath said 

He'll drown the world no more. 
But, oh ! consider dearest Friends, 

How vast his judgments are, 
And if 3'ou are resolv'd to Sin 

To meet 3'our God prepare. 
Who hath his Magazines of Fire, 

In Heaven and Earth and Seas, 
Which alvva3's wait on his Command, 

And run where'er he please. 
If God the awful word but speak. 

And bid the Fire ran, 
The Magazines together meet, 

And like a furnace burn. 
Above our Head, below our Feet, 

God Treasures hath in Store ; 
And when he gives out his Command, 

The Volcano's will roar. 
Amazingty the Earth will quake. 

The World a flaming be 
When God, the great, the might3' God, 

Gives forth his just Decree. 
• •<••• 

" That man can't be prevail'd upon 
Tho' with our strong desire. 
To get prepar'd against the Day 

When all the World on Fire 
Shall burn and blaze about their Heads, 
And they no Shelter have ; 



118 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

No Rock to hide their guilty Heads, 

No, nor no watery Grave. 
For Rocks will melt like Wax away 

Before the dreadful Lleat, 
And I^arth and Sea and all will flame 

In one consuming Heap. 
The Earth beneath abounds with Stores 

Of Oils and Sulphurs too, 
And Turfs and Coals, which all will Flame, 

When God commands the blow. 
The flaming Lightning which we see 

Around the Heavens run, 
Do livelily now represent 

The Conflagration. 
Those flaming magazines of God 

Have fire enough in store. 
And only wait their Lord's commands 

To let us feel their power. 
When once receiv'd the}' then will run. 

They'll run from Pole to Pole, 
And all the strength of Earth and Hell 

Cannot their power controle. 
Justly may we now stand amoz'd. 

At God's abundant Grace, 
To think so base and vile a World 

Is not all in a Blaze ; 
When far the greatest part thereof 

Are poor vile Infidels, 
Among the Christian part thereof 

Are sins as black as Hell." 

In conchision, these "precious souls " are entreated 
to join with one accord 

" In praising of the Holy Name, 
Of the Eternal God." 



POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. 119 

Earthquakes were at one time rather common in 
New England, but nothing to be compared to their 
frequency in England. It is said that in what is 
called the "mobile district," of Comrie, in Perthshire, 
during the winter of 1839 and 1840, they had one 
hundred and forty earthquakes, being at the rate of 
about one shock a day on an average ; " and it is added, 
"They seldom do much harm." 

The following is a memorandum, probably nearly 
correct and complete, of earthquakes experienced in 
Boston, between the years 1636 and 1817; and it 
may be considered fortunate that they were not all 
commemorated by Puritan poets. 

1638. June 1. Great earthquake in Boston. 

1639. Jan. 16. Another earthquake. 

1643. March 5. Sunday morning another earthquake. 

1658. A great earthquake. 

1663. Jan. 26. Very great earthquake. 

1669. April 3. An earthquake. 

1727. Oct. 29. An earthquake. 

1730. April 12. An earthquake. 

1732. Sept. 5. An earthquake. 

1737. Feb. 6. An earthquake. 

1744. June 3. The earthquake commemorated. 

1755. Nov. 18. A very great earthquake. About 
one hundred chimneys thrown down, and other damage. 

1757. July 8. An earthquake. 

1761. March 12. An earthquake. 

1761. Nov. 1. An earthquake. 

1782. Nov. 29. An earthquake. 

1783. Nov. 29. An earthquake. 
1800. March 11. An earthquake. 
1810. Nov. 9. An earthquake. 
1817. Sept. 7. An oartliqnake. 



120 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 



DEBORAH: A BEE. 

Another broadside sheet, some seven by twelve, is 
entitled as above, and divided into paragraphs, num- 
bered from one to twenty, in prose. It is a sort of 
sermon in which the Christian is compared to the 
Bee, or perhaps placed in competition with the in- 
dustrious and self-supporting insect. Its positions, 
omitting most of the applications, are these : The bee 
is a laborious, diligent creature ; so is the Chri>tian. 
The bee is a provident creature ; so is the Christian. 
The bee feeds on the sweetest and choicest foods ; 
so does the Christian. The bee puts all into the 
common stock ; so is the Christian of a generous, 
communicative temper. The bee is always armed; so 
is the Christian with respect to his spiritual armor. 
Bees are a sort of commonwealth ; so Christians are 
likened to a city that is compacted together. The 
bee, as it always has a bag of honey, has also a bag 
of rank poison ; so has the Christian, with the grace 
of God, a body of sin and corruption, &c. Lastlv, 
the bee lies dormant all winter ; so the Christian 
sometimes slumbers, &c. '' Yet the hour is coming 
when all that are in the graves shall awake and come 
forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrec- 
tion of life ; but alas, they that have done evil, unto 
the resurrection of damnation !" Sold by Kneeland 
& Green, in Queen Street. Illustrated with a small 
fanciful engraving of a bee-hive, surrounded with 
horns of plenty and decorative carving. 



POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. 121 



PROPOSED POPISH INVASION. 

Every thing which occurred in England, or else- 
where, in fact, having any reference to Poperj^, how- 
ever remote, was sure to interest the Puritans, and 
demand their attention ; and, it would seem, v/as 
sometimes provocative of poetry. So when tlie 
" happy discovery of a cursed plot against the church 
of God, Great Britain and her King," was announced 
b}^ the King, on the 15th of February, 1743 (i.e., 1744), 
a large hand-bill was issued from the Boston press, to 
which the printer did not put his name, headed, 
" Good news from London, to the rejoicing of every 
christian heart." This was the discovery of the 
plot "for bringing in a young Popish pretender." 
The news was received by an arrival at Portsmouth, 
N.H., in twenty-six days from England, and included 
the message of the King to Parliament. The hand- 
bill contained the message in which the King declares 
that '-having received undoubted intelligence that 
the eldest son of the pretender to his crown is arrived 
in France, and that preparations are making there to 
invade this kingdom, in concert with disaffected per- 
sons here," &c., his Majesty acquaints the House of 
the matter in order that measures may be taken, &c. 

This is followed by a long anonymous poem, be- 
ginning, — 

'' Behold the French and Spaniards rage, 
And people with accord 
Combine, to take awa}' the life 
Of George, our sovereign lord. 



122 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

" When George the first came to the throne, 
Their rage began to burn, 
And now they fain would execute 
The same upon his son. 

" Their hellish breast being set on fire, 
Even with the fire of Hell, 
Nor Love, nor charms, nor clemency, 
Can their base malice quell." 



And so on through three columns, and then comes 
the 

CONCLUSION. 

*' Let all that openlj' profess. 

The ways of Christ our Lord, 
Not spare to tell how much such things 
Are b}' their souls abhor' d. 

" Let every child of God now cry, 
To the eternal one. 
That George our sovereign lord and king 
Ma}' ne'er be overcome. 

'' That all his Foes may lick the Dust, 
And melt like Wax away. 
That joy and peace and righteousness 
Ma}' flourish in his da}'." 

The proposed expedition, it is well known, never 
landed in England. The combined fleet escaped an 
engagement, and the transports were wrecked and 
scattered by a storm in the English Channel. 



POPULAR PUPvITAN LITEPvATUPwE. 123 



THE SCOTTISH REBELLION. 

" A short history of the Grand Rebellion in Scotr 
land, or a brief account of the rise and progress of 
Charles Stuart, the young pretender, and his associ- 
ates ; and his seasonable defeat by His Majesty's 
Forces under the command of His Royal Highness 
the Duke of Cumberland." 

This remarkable production is printed on one side 
of a single sheet of paper, seven by twelve, in verse, 
three columns. It begins, — 

" From Rome the proud Pretender's come 
Flush'd with conceits of Britain's Crown, 
Imagining, poor sill}^ Lad, 
Those glorious Kingdoms to have had, 
And all the churches of the Lord, 
The3''ve roll'd in seas of Purple Blood ; 
His grand commission from the Pope 
Was Fire, Faggot, Sword, and Rope, 
Or Boots, or Scourges, Cord and Whips, 
For all poor vile Hereticks." 

The poet proceeds with the landing in Scotland, 
where the Popish priest demised to him the land; 
the joining of the disaffected, the robbing of the 
people : — 

'' They range about and seek for pre}^ 
Nor spare aught comes in their wa}' ; 
They murder, steal, rob and destroy, 
And many a goodly Town annoy." 

Flashed with victory, they move toward England, 
" and now to London drive along." 



124 CURIOSITIES OF HISTOEY. 

" Which brave Prince William quickly hears 
And without an}' Dread or Fears, 
Pursues the Rebels in full chase, 
And lo, they fly before his Grace, 
Who still pursues and overtakes, 
And many a Highland captive makes. 

The rest now fly, won't stand to Fight, 
But back to Scotland make their flight, 
And there like Beasts who've furious grown 
They range about from Town to Town. 

But Heaven beheld these bloody men. 
No longer now would bear with them. 
Inspires the Duke of Cumbeiland 
To take the work into his hand. 
To scourge this cursed barbarous Brood 
For all their Rapine, Stealth, and Blood. 
Away he goes, post liaste he flies. 
To face the raging Enemies, 
To Scotland, where the wretches fled. 
When chas'd from Carlisle, full of dread, 
Where being come, his troops combine, 
And all in lovely Consort join, 
And strong Desires do now express, 
To slay these Sons of Wickedness. 
Great Joy and Gladness now was shown. 
When to the Folk it was made known 
That Cumberland, the brave, was come 
To save them from expected Ruin." 
The people joining the Duke, the enemy was pur- 
sued, when — 

" A church in which their stores did lay, 
They blow'd up ere they ran away,'* 



POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. 125 

after they had bid the people enter in, and many 
" precious souls at one sad Blast, into eternity are 
cast." 

'' But hard beset by British force 

The}' dare not sta}-, or they'd do worse ; 
Some % to mountains, some to dales, 
When all their hellish Courage fails. 

Flying I leave them, 'till we hear 
The end of this most bloody war. 

For which the thankful folk proclaim 
Thanksgivings to the Almighty name, 
And may we all now join with them. 
And to their Thanks join our Amen." 

Sold by B. Gray, near the market. Without date ; 
printed in 1744. 



XII. 
REVOLUTIONARY PROCLAMATIONS, 



Gen. Gage's administration of less than a je^v 
and a half in the "Province of Massacliusetts Bay," 
for he never had any government over the province 
other than military, was prolific in proclamations, 
some of which are rather curious. On the 1st of 
June, 1774, by order of Parliament and the King, 
Boston Harbor was closed and possessed by ships of 
the British navy. Nothing could enter or leave the 
port : wood as fuel could not be brought from the 
islands, or merchandise or lumber removed from 
wharf to wharf by water; nothing whatever could 
be water borne within a circle of sixty miles, either 
to arrive or depart. At the same time British troops 
held the town ; and the government, sucli as it was, 
was removed to Salem, where the General Court re- 
assembled on the 7th of June. At this session, on the 
17th, as the result of arrangements made by Samuel 
Adams and his fellow-patriots, five delegates were 
chosen to represent the colony in the proposed Con- 
tinental Congress, at Philadelphia. As soon as these 
proceedings, while j^et in progress, reached Gen. 
Gage's ears by a tricky tory, who got out of the hall 

126 



EEVOLUTIONARY PEO CLAM AT IONS. 127 

by feigning a call of nature, he issued his first procla- 
mation, which Mr. Secretary Flucker, as he found 
the door locked and could not get into the chamber, 
had to read on the stairs, as follows : — 

" Province of Massachusetts-Bay. 

By the GOVERNOR. 
" A PROCLAMATION for dissolviiig the General-Court. 

" WHEREAS the Proceedings of the House of Representa- 
tives, in the present Session of the General Court, make it neces- 
sary, for his Majesty's Service, that the said General Court 
should be dissolved: — 

"I have therefore thought fit to dissolve the said General 
Court, and the same is hereby dissolved accordingly, and the 
Members thereof are discharged from any further Attendance. 

" GIVEN under my Hand at Salem, the 17th Day of June, 
1774, in the Fourteenth Year of his Majesty's Reign. 
By his Excellency's Command, }ry p a rr" 
Tho's Flucker, Secretary. ) 

"GOD SAVE THE KING." 

Gen. Gage's next proclamation was against the ex- 
istence of the famous " Committee of Correspond- 
ence," which Samuel Adams had originated, and the 
"solemn league and covenant" "to suspend all com- 
mercial intercourse with the island of Great Britain," 
&c. And "in tenderness to the inhabitants of this 
province," he issued this proclamation of warning. 

Then, as if to cap the climax of pretension and 
folly, not to say hypocrisy, on the 25th of July, while 
he relied upon the counsels and efforts of the tor}' 
party, issued what may be called a very curious procla- 
mation, such as possibly, under some circumstances, 
might have been issued by Gov. Endicott, in the 



128 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

early days of New England Puritanism ; but the Puri- 
tans had long before this time passed out of power. 
The following is the proclamation : — 

MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 

By the governor: A PROCLAMATIOX. 

Fur the Encouragrment of Pieffj, and Virtue, and for precenling 
and punishing of vice, jjrofanitg and immoralinj. 

IX humble imitation of the laudable example of our most 
gracious sovereign George the third, who in the first year of 
his reign was pleased to issue his Royal proclamation for the 
encouragement of piety and virtue, and for f)reventiiig of vice 
and immorality, in which he declares his royal purpose to punish 
all persons guilty thereof ; and upon all occasions to bestow 
marks of his royal favor on persons distinguished for their piely 
and virtue : 

" I therefore, by and with the advice of his Majesty's Council, 
publish this proclamation, exhorting all his Majesty's subjects 
to avoid all hypocrisy, sedition, licentiousness, and all other 
immoralities, and to have a grateful sense of all God's mercies, 
making the divine laws the rule of their conduct. 

" 1 therefore command aH. Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other 
^Officers, to use their utmost endeavors to enforce the laws for 
promoting religion and virtue, and restraining all vice and sedi- 
tion ; and I earnestly recommend to all ministers of the gospel 
that they be vigilant and active in inculcating a due submission 
to the laws of God and man ; and I exhort all the people of 
this province, by every means in their power, to contribute what 
(they can towards a general reformation of manners, restitution 
of peace and good order, and a proper subjection to the laws, 
as they expect the blessing of Heaven. 

" And I do further declare, that in the disposal of the offices 
of honor and trust, within this province, the supporters of true 
religion and good government shall be considered as the fittest 
objects of such appointments. 

" And I hereby require the Justices of assize, and Justices of 
the peace in this province, to give strict charge to the grand 



EEVOLUTIONARY PEOCLAMATIONS. 129 

Jurors for the prosecution of offenders against the laws: and 
that, in their several courts they cause this proclamation to be 
publickly read immediately before the charge is given. 

" GIVEN at the Council Chamber in Salem, the 21st day of 
Juhj^ 1774, in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign 
Lord GEORGE the Third by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, 
France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, S^c. 

" Thomas Gage. 
*' By his Excellency's Command, 
Tiios. Flucker, Secry. 

" GOD SAVE THE KING." 

The gist of the proclamation, which was specially 
intended for the people of Boston, for whose benefit 
the words '' sedition and hypocrisy " were used, was 
in the phrase, "submission to the laws of Go^ and 
many This proclamation w^as not like the previous 
one, directed to the sheriffs ; nor was it ordered to be 
posted in the several towns of the province; nor 
was it ordered to be read from the pulpits of the 
churches ; but the justices of the coui-ts and grand 
juries were to see to its observance. It was, in fact, 
a mere piece of gasconade on the part of the gov- 
ernor, in imitation of his Majesty very likely ; but, 
like the others, nobody either observed it or trou- 
bled themselves about it ; and it has very rarely 
been spoken of since, if at all, by any historian. How- 
ever it may be characterized, it simpl}^ had the effect 
to exasperate the minds of the people, owing to the 
insertion of hypocrisy among the immoralities.^ The 
proclamation itself, as they thought, was the boldest 
piece of political hypocrisy the government had yet 
perpetrated. It was much like every thing else 

1 Gordon's History, Vol. I., p. 253. 



130 CUEIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

which the king, miiiistiy, or governor had done from 
the time of the stamp-act, and had a tendency to 
make matters worse instead of better. 

Gen. Gage's prochamation of the 12th of June, 1775, 
offering pardon to all who shall lay down their arms, 
&c., is well known. It begins, — 

" Whereas the infatuated multitude who have 
suffered tliemselves to be conducted by certain well- 
known incendiaries and traitors in a fatal progression 
of crimes against the constitutional authority of the 
state, have at length proceeded to avowed rebellion," 
&c. . . . '^ A number of armed persons to the 
amount of many thousands assembled on the 19th of 
April," &c. " In this exigency I avail myself of the 
last effort," and thereupon offers " a full pardon to 
all who shall lay down their arms, excepting Samuel 
Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too 
flagitious a nature to admit of any other consider- 
tion than that of condign punishment," &c. 

The proclamation was probably written by Gen. 
Burgoyne, and so little atte^ntion was paid to it that 
the army continued intact at Cambridge, and in 
exactly one week from its date occurred the battle 
of Bunker Hill, which proved so ''fatal" to more 
than a thousand British soldiers. In less than four 
months after this time Gen. Gag^e "laid down his 
arms " and returned to England; and a few months 
later, in March, 1776, the army and the navy followed 
his example and left the country, taking the " Port 
Act" with them, but leaving for the use of the 
colony, arms, ammunition, provisions, and even medi- 
cal stores. 



XIII. 
CURIOSITIES OF THE MARKET. 



*'The turnpike road to people's hearts, I find 
Lies through their mouths, or I mistake mankind." 

[Peter Pindar. 

After arriving at Mishawam, and voting the 
church and that the minister should be supported at 
the common charge, it became necessary to think of 
providing in some way for the sustenance of the 
party. Although Gov. Winthrop, when he arrived 
off the harbor, went up to Salem in a boat, and was 
handsomely entertained by Gov. Endicott, whom he 
came to displace, with a rich venison pate^ such fare 
was not afterwards found to be very plenty ; and the 
strawberries, which those he left on board the ships 
found on Cape Ann, were not alwaj^s to be had, nor 
a very substantial food for the settlers. Of course, 
the party had a supply of provisions, — a market of 
their own which they brought with them ; and, as 
nobody could become a freeman or have a vote in 
public affairs unless he was a member of the church, 
it is to be inferred that nobody would be allowed 
any thing to eat only on the same condition ; and this, 
if Peter Pindar was right, was a facile method of con- 
version and making disciples of the most obdurate. 
Hunting and fishing were no doubt readily resorted 

131 



132 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

to as rather promising pursuits, aud possibly some 
Ihonglit may have been given to cornfiekls, though 
there was no great anxiety for work. At all events, 
however successful the hunting parties were, so 
much of their supply of provisions was bartered with 
the Indians for furs that a scarcity of food was soon 
experienced, and then they had to buy corn of them. 
INIatters soon became serious : for whatever miHit 

o 

have been the primary object of the Puritans in com- 
ing to this country, eating Avas not beyond a second- 
ary consideration, to say the least of it ; and a market 
of supplies for the material man became an impor- 
tant consideration then, and has been so ever since. 
Dr. Johnson, who loved a good dinner and rarely 
found it at home, thought "a tavern was the throne 
of human felicity; " but, of course, such a notion as 
that never entered the minds of the Puritans. 

The first thanksgiving was for the safe arrival of 
the party, and the next was for the arrival of the 
" Lion," or some other ship, with a supply of food ; 
and this, it is supposed, was not bartered ofP for furs. 
Indian corn, which was a new thing to the settlers, 
was for a long time the principal diet, occasionally 
modified with fish ; but the truth is, how the settlers 
managed to live through all this time, in such a cli- 
mate, up to the times that we know something about, 
is a complete mystery. 

Capt. Roger Clapp, who arrived at Hull on the 30th 
of jMay, 1630, about a fortnight before Gov. Win- 
throp arrived at Salem, and who died in IC 90-91, 
described the state of things "in those claj^s," in the 
following words : — 



ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. 133 

*' It was not accounted a strange thing in those Days to drink 
Water, and to eat Samp or Ilominie without Butter or Milk. 
Indeed, it would have been a strange thing to see a piece of 
Roast Beef, Mutton or Veal ; though it was not long before there 
was Roast Goat. After the first Winter, we were very Healthy; 
though some of us had no great Store of Corn. The Indians 
did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with us for Cloathing and 
Knives ; and once I had a Peck of Corn or thereabouts, for a 
little Puppy- Dog. Frost-fish, Muscles and Clams were a Relief 
to many." 

ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. 

Wood, in his famous " New England's Prospect," 
gives some particulars about game and hunting 
among the early settlers in 1639: — 

" Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the country, 
the healthfulness of the climate, the nature of the soil, with 
his vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amiss to 
inform you of such irrational creatures as are daily bred, and 
continually nourished in this country, which do much conduce 
to the well-being of the inhabitants, affording not only meat 
for the belly, but cloathing for the back. The beasts be as 
f oUoweth : — 

" The kingly Lion, and the strong arm'd Bear, 
The large limb'd Mooses, with the tripping Deer; 
Quill-darting Porcupines, and Raccoons be 
Castel'd in the hollow of an aged tree; 
The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare, 
Immured in the self same castle are, 
Lest red-ey'd Ferret, wily Foxes should 
Them undermine, if rampir'd but with mould; 
The grim-fac'd Ounce, and rav'nous howling Wolf, 
Whose meagre paunch sucks like a swallowing gulf; 
Black glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever, 
The Civet scented Musquash smelling ever." 



134 cumosiTiES or histoky. 



WHAT BEFELL A HUNTER. 

" Two men going a fowling, appointed at evening to meet at 
a certain pond side, to share equally, and to return home; one of 
these gunners having killed a Seal or Sea-calf, brought it to the 
pond where he was to meet his comrade, afterwards returning 
to the sea-side for more game, and having loaded himself with 
more Geese and Ducks he repaired to the pond, where he saw a 
gieat Bear feeding on his seal, which caused him to throw down 
Ills load, and give the Bear a salute ; which though it was but 
with goose-shot, yet tumbled him over and over ; whereupon 
the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beat 
him with the handle of his gun. The Bear perceiving him to 
be such a coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled 
up, standing at defiance with him, scratching his legs, tearing 
his cloaths and face, who stood it out till his six foot gun was 
broken in the middle ; then beii.g deprived of his weapon, he 
ran up to the shoulders into the pond, where he remained till 
the Bear was gone, and his mate come in, who accompanied 
him home." 

The author gives a peculiar description of the 
animals named. Of the lion, he says he had never 
seen one; but others "lost in the woods have heard 
such terrible roarings as have made them much 
agast : which must be either Devils or Lions ; " so 
lions have it. The moose '' is as big as an ox, slow 
of foot, headed like a Buck, with a broad beam, some 
being two yards wide in the head ; their flesh is as 
good as beef, their hides good for cloathing." He 
describes deer, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The small 
squirrel troubles the planters so, that they have " to 
carry their Cats into the corn-fields till their corn be 
three weeks old." " The beasts of offence be Squncks, 
Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes diverts 
them to the good Wives Hen-roost, to fill their 



ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. 135 

paunch." He gives a fearful account of the wolves, 
which set on swine, goats, calves, &c., and care noth- 
ing for a dog. 

Equally curious with these are his descriptions of 
the "beasts living in the water," as the otter, mus- 
quash, &c., and of " the birds and fowls, both of 
land and water." 

"The princcl}- Eagle, and the soaring Hawk, 
Whom in their unknown wa^s there's none can chalk ; 
The Humbird for some Queen's rich cage more fit, 
Than in the vacant wilderness to sit ; 
The swift-winged Swallow sweeping to and fro, 
As swift as arrows from Tartarian bow ; 
When as Aurora's infant day new springs. 
There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet la3's sings ; 
The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove, 
Who to her mate does ever constant prove ; 
The Turkey-pheasant, Ileathcock, Partridge rare, 
The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare." 

The raven, screech-owl, heron, cormorant, and so 
on to geese, gulls, mallards, teal, ducks, snipes, and 
many others. The fish also are rehearsed in verse : — 

" The king of waters, the sea-shouklering Whale, 
The snuffing Grampus, with the oily Seal ; 
The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog, 
Line shearing Shark, the Catfish, and Sea Dog; 
The scale-fenc'd Sturgeon, wry-mouth' d HoUibut, 
The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut ; 
Cole, Haddick, Hake, the Thornback, and the Scate, 
Whose Slimy outside makes him seld' in date ; 
The stately Bass, old Neptune's fleeting post, 
That tides it out and in from sea to coast ; 



136 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

Consorting Herrings, and the bon}^ Shad, 
Big-bellied Alewives, Mackrels richty clad 
With rainbow colour, the Frostfish and the Smelt, 
As good as ever Lady Gustus felt ; 
The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies, 
That seek fresh-water brooks with Argus eyes ; 
These watery villagers, with thousands more. 
Do pass and repass near the verdant shore.'* 

KINDS OF SHELL-FISH. 

" The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw, 
The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Perriwig, 
And Tortoise fought by the Indian's Squaw, 
Which to the flats dance many a winter's jig, 
To dive for Cockles, and to dig for Clams, 
Whereb}^ her lazy husband's guts she crams." 

It was recommended to those who came over after 
Winthrop, to bring with them a hogshead and a half 
of meal, "to keep him until he may receive the fruit 
of his own labors, which will be a year and a half 
after his arrival, if he land in May or June." Also, 
''malt, beef, butter, cheese, pease, good wines, vine- 
gar, and strong waters ; " and in addition, a variety 
of clothing, boots, shoes, implements, iron wares, 
stew-pans, warming-pans, fish-hooks, and every con- 
ceivable thing for use or labor, being assured that 
whatever they did not want, could be disposed of at 
a profit. 

MARKET SUPPLIES. 

One of the earliest accounts of the market supplies 
in Boston is that written by a French refugee in 
1687, — almost two hundred years ago. He says, — 



FAMILY BILL OF FARE. 137 

'* An ox costs from twelve to fifteen crowns; a Cow, eight 
to ten; Horses, from ten to fifty Crowns, and in Plenty. There 
are even wild ones in the Woods, which are yours if you can 
catch them. Foals are sometimes caught. Beef costs Two 
pence the Pound; Mutton, Two pence; Pork, from two to three 
pence, according to the Season ; Flour, Fourteen shillings the one 
hundred and twelve Pound, all bolted; Fish is very cheap, and 
Vegetables also; Cabbage, Turnips, Onions, and Carrots abound 
here. Moreover, there are quantities of Nuts, Chestnuts, and 
Hazelnuts wild. These nuts are small, but of wonderful flavor. 
I have been told that there are other Sorts, which we shall see 
in the Season. I am assured that the Woods are full of Straw- 
berries in the Season. I have seen Quantities of wild Grape- 
vine, and eaten Grapes of very good Flavor, kept by one of my 
friends. There is no Doubt that the Vine will do well ; there is 
some little planted in the country which has grown. The Rivers 
are full of Fish, and we have so great a Quantity of Sea and 
River Fish that no Account is made of them." 

It is pretty certain that these things have been 
so ever since. 

FAMILY BILL OF FAKE. 

A hiter account than this, however, and one with 
which some who are now Hving may be more or less 
familiar, or have heard of, is given as follows: — 

" The ordinary food of the early settlers here, for both 
breakfast and supper, was bean porridge, with bread and butter. 
On Sunday morning there was coffee in addition. Brown 
bread, made of rye and Indian, was the staff of life, white 
bread being used only when guests were present. Baked pump- 
kins (in their season) and milk composed a dish said to be lux- 
urious. [This dish is in common use among the country people 
at the present time.] For dinner, twice every week, Sundays 
and Thursdays, baked beans and baked Indian pudding, the 
latter being served first. [This last custom has gone wholly out 
of practice; but the Sunday dinner prevails to-day over the 



138 CUKIOSITIES OF HISTOllY. 

whole of New England, to a very large extent.] Saturdays, 
salt fish; one day in every week, salt pork and corned beef, and 
one day, also, when practicable, roasted meat was the rule." 

It is surprising how continuously some of these 
customs have been kept up and prevail. 

SEARCHING FOR PROVISIONS. 

It is not to be denied, that provisions have been 
scarce in Boston, at times, since the days of the 
Puritans, hardly now to be realized. Long before the 
Revolutionary period, in 1711, during one of the wars 
between France and England, Admiral Sir Hovender 
Walker, with a fleet of fifteen men-of-war, and forty 
transports with upwards of five thousand men, ar- 
rived in the harbor on his way to the St. Lawrence 
River, for the protection of Canada. He wanted to 
victual his ships, and applied to Capt. Belcher (father 
of Gov. Jonathan Belcher), a rich and leading man, 
as being the only person who could undertake the 
service, and he declined it. Next to Mr. Andrew 
Faneuil, and he undertook it. Provisions were scarce 
and the price put up, so that a supply could not be 
had, and the governor was compelled to issue an 
" order for searching for provisions." The men, dur- 
ing the stay of the fleet, were in camp at Noddle's 
Island, and it is said that a formidable number of 
them deserted. 

CONCLUSION. 

We have thus travelled over some of the old 
avenues, ways, customs, and things, peaceful and 
warlike, more or less in connection with the early 



CONCLUSION. 139 

settlement, the mature town, and the gorgeous city, 
from 1630 to 1880 ; from the period of scarcity and 
deprivation to that of prosperity and abundance. 
The task has been delightfuh and whatever may be 
thought of the ways and doings, and we may almost 
say the undoings, of the Puritans, the town which 
they planted and the principles they promulgated, 
rather than the intolerance they practised, have be- 
come permanent and sure. Now, indeed, there is 
neither intolerance nor scarcity ; and however much 
our predecessors may have suffered we are now able 
to supply bread and beef to millions of people less 
favorably circumstanced. Perhaps nothing more 
distinctly or emphatically marks the character and 
quality of a people than their " ways and means " 
of living. It has been said that Americans are dis- 
posed to revel in big dinners ; and, in fact, under- 
take to accomplish every thing with a big dinner, or 
at least celebrate the accompUshment of it in that 
way. One writer has said, if we welcome a guest 
it is done with a dinner; if we inaugurate a stock 
company or start a charity, it is pretty sure to have 
its relations with the market and the stomach. This 
may be partly so. A good dinner, social and liberal, 
is the reconciler, tlie inspiration, the motive power 
of good works generall}^ ; and what it cannot do, or 
at least help to do, is pretty sure not to be accom- 
plished. Of course, all this is understood, and al- 
most sure to be practised, so that, when any thing 
comes up, instead of going to bed to sleep on it, we 
hurry off to Parker's or Young's, or it may be, if the 
matter is very staid and respectable, to the old Tre- 



140 CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY. 

mont, and eat on it. The custom is in us — in the 
blood ; it is Saxon, and comes naturally enough 
from the mother country. In England, the great 
diner-out, Douglas Jerrold, who knows all about it, 
says, " If an earthquake were to engulf all England 
to-morrow. Englishmen would manage to meet, and 
dine somewhere among the rubbish," as if the occa- 
sion needed to be celebrated in that way. 

There have been times, now fortunately more than 
a hundred years ago, when our market could not be 
made to furnish a big dinner ; when there was no 
market ; when the enemy were seizing all the sheep 
and cattle ; when the people were starving on salt 
provisions, and, in one instance at least, a party of 
gentlemen were invited to dine off a roasted rat in 
Boston ; and again when a special request was made 
to the people, in consequence of the necessities of 
the times, " not to have more than two dishes of meat 
on their tables." But not long after this, on the 24th 
of Januar}', 1793, there was a grand festival in honor 
of French Liberty and Equality, when an ox of more 
than a thousand weight was roasted entire, and drawn 
on a car by fifteen horses, followed by other carriages 
with hogsheads of punch, loaves of bread, &c., and a 
large procession of civil, military, municipal officers, 
and citizens, through the principal streets to State 
Street, where the table was spread and the dinner 
was served up in high style. At the present time, it 
would be an easy matter to roast an ox every day, 
and big dinners are regarded as of small account 
on the score of rarity. Some philosopher has said, 
" Eating dinner is a task which, above all others, re- 



CONCLUSION. 141 

quires the conscience pure, the mind easy, a reason 
undisturbed, the senses critical, and the body and 
spirit perfectly at rest." It may be said that the 
philosophers of the present day do not deem eating 
a good dinner " a task ; " and it is pretty certain the 
mass of the people do not. It is to be hoped our 
market will never again be unprepared to furnish a 
big dinner, on all reasonable occasions, supply a 
British fleet, or meet the requirements of the people 
at home, or the necessities of the race abroad. 



LIST OF PUBLICATIONS. 



Siege and JEvncuation of Boston and 
ChavlestoWflf with a brief account of Pre-Revolu- 
tionary Buildings. 63^ William W. Wheildon. 8vo. 
pp. 64. 50 cents. 

" In Uiis pamphlet Mr. Wheildon has gathered together, and put in a compact 
and readable form, such records as are accessible of the stirring events of a hun- 
dred years ago. Nothing could be more timely ; and whoever wishes to acquaint 
himself with the events of 17th of March, 1776, will find what he seeks told in 
a simple and modest style between the covers of this pamphlet." — ^o.sto?i 
Journal. . 

" His account of the Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown, is by 
far the most complete and the best that has been prepared." — //k^^'j;. 

"It is the most concise and accurate history of this interesting year of the 
Revolution published." — //^raM. 

"To those who have read the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill, by the 
same author, William W. Wheildon, it is unnecessary to praise this work which 
covers a longer period." — New Haven Palladium. 

" It is an interesting story as told by Mr. Wheildon, who gives the chief 
credit for the conduct of the military operations, not to Washington, but to the 
Massachusetts officers." — Boston Dally Advertiser. 

Sentry or Beacon Hill: Its Beacon and 
Monument f 1635 to 1812. By William W. Wheil- 
don. 8vo. pp. 120, with plans, heliotype plates, and 
75 cents and $1.25. 

EXTRACTS FBOM SOME PRIVATE LETTERS. 

" I am delighted with your new book Beacon Hill, &c. Nothing of the kind 
ever pleased me more." 

" I have read and re-read your exhaustive history of Beacon Hill. It revives 
a thousand delightful memories of my boyhood; all its statements tally with ray 
recollections." , , , ^ , 

" I enjoyed the reading of your book on Beacon Hill very highly. You have 
certainly made 'a careful study of that field, and have given me a large amount of 
information. 1 know much more about ancient Boston than I did before." 

JPanl Bevere^s Sir/naf Lanterns ^ April 18, 
1775. Bv William W. Wheildon. 8vo. pp. 50. 
Concord, 1878. 

"Mr. Wheildon considers, one by one, the various statements that have been 
made and theories broached concerning the display of lights from the Old North 
Church, on the evening of April 18, 1775. The conclusion to which he arrives 
seems to be supported by both documentary evidence and local tradition." — 
Transcript. 

"An occasional doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the story; but 
the author of this iittle pamphlet has evidently made a patient investigation, and 
appears to have estabhshed a very satisfactory aina." — Daily Globe. 

" The author introduces many fresh facts having a direct bearing upon the 
once disputed position of the lanterns : and in consequence has produced a work 
of great historical value, in addition to many others of a similar nature from his 
pen." — Comniercial Bulletin. 

[Since the publication of this pamphlet, the city committee have purchased 
two hundred copies of the work.] 

143 



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